Investigation opened into “judges for sale” revelations
The Office of the Prosecutor against Organized Crime has initiated an investigation into the publications of La Prensa about the alleged “purchase and sale” of judgments in the Supreme Court (CSJ), as detailed by lawyer Janio Lescure while being recorded by undercover investigators.
The decision was reported by the Public Ministry (MP) on Friday, September 6, 2019, through its Twitter account.
On the same day, President Cortizo, during meetings to discuss the appointment of new judges expressed his concern about the revelations.
The MP warns that it is up to the National Assembly to initiate investigations of the judges of the CSJ, given that Lescure – according to La Prensa – refers to magistrates Hernán De León and Abel Zamorano .
The notes also refer to Oydén Ortega , magistrate of the CSJ until last February.
La Prensa’s investigation emphasizes the statements made by lawyer Janio Lescure last year in Spain, about the sale of judicial sentences in Panama.
The information was extracted by an Israeli private intelligence agency, hired by a Panamanian businessman, who had several meetings in which Lescure described a scheme to buy and sell rulings . Lescure introduced himself as an intermediary to pay the bribes.
