Rookie lawmaker knocks sweetheart penalty deals

Outspoken independent rookie deputy Juan Diego Vásquez questioned on Wednesday, September 18, the sweetheart penalty deals and collaboration agreements with companies and people linked to corruption.

He was fired up he by the agreement reached with Carlos Ho the former Director of Special Projects of the Ministry of Public Works who was involved in the Oderbtrecht bribery scandal in which at least $90 million was disbursed in Panama.

“Until when are we going to continue awarding  penalty agreements awarded in which no one is convicted?” Vásquez said. He recalled that Ho will pay $10,000 instead of serving the remaining months of his sentence. 

The agreement with Ho González was validated at a hearing in the Twelfth Criminal Court.

In the hearing, the judge reduced the sentence from 108 months to 72 months in prison. In addition, Ho was recognized for the 24 months he was in provisional detention.

The former official had an outstanding penalty of 48 months in prison, but it was converted into a fine of $ 10,000, so he was released.

Ho was executive project director of the Ministry of Public Works during the administration of former President Martín Torrijos (2004 – 2009).

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In social networks, his relatives posted images and messages indicating that Ho González was released from prison on Monday.

The independent deputy Vásquez also noted the cases of companies such as Odebrecht, which continues to make contacts with the State despite having been convicted of corruption in numerous other countries in the region.