Ex-Assembly president remains under cloud as prosecutor wins appeal

First Superior Court of Justice  has admitted an  appeal filed by the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office on the ruling that determined that the Public Prosecutor’s Office cannot investigate the former president  of the National Assembly Rubén De León, and elected deputy of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) – for alleged anomalies in Assembly  expense  forms 

The superior court says that it granted, the appeal filed by anti-corruption prosecutor Zuleyka Moore, and referred the process to the Supreme Court.

This evolution effect implies that the decision being appealed is not paralyzed until such appeal is resolved, said  Roberto Moreno, a lawyer of  De León.  

 The ruling of the First Court, of August 9 and with a presentation by Judge Olga Rujano, received an appeal presented by the lawyers of De León against the decision of the judge of guarantees Clara Montenegro to conduct a hearing of imputation and application of measures precautionary to De León by the process of the returns.  

Prosecutor Moore had described the ruling as “unfortunate” and totally different from what the Supreme Court has said on this matter.  

Moore recalled that the Supreme Court has argued that it is one thing to be an elected representative of the Parlacen and another is the prerogatives to which the members of that forum are entitled once sworn, so she appealed the ruling.  

This Thursday, August 29, Panamanian deputies in the Parlacen – among them De León – will be sworn in by the directive of this regional body. De León was elected by the Democratic Revolutionary Party.

Panamanian deputies of the Parlacen will be sworn in Nicaragua on Thursday, August 29.

The investigation in the case of De León is related to alleged anomalies in the collection of checks linked to the returns of the Assembly.