Supreme Court accepts nullity plea in $1,269 billion claim against bank

Panama’s  Supreme Court (CSJ) admitted a nullity incident filed by the Ministry of the Presidency against Abdul Waked’s more than $1.25 billion claim on the National Bank of Panama (BNP) over the sale of Soho Mall.

Harmodio Jiménez, as attorney of the Ministry, filed the nullity incident before the Third Chamber of the Contentious, on February 22.

The appeal is requested to annul the resolution of August 3, 2018, which orders the admission of Waked’s lawsuit against BNP and the State.

They also request the inadmissibility of the claim, indicating that the Third Chamber lacks jurisdiction. The file of the file is also requested.

On August 23, 2018, Judge Abel Zamorano, of the Third Chamber of the CSJ, admitted a claim for compensation in which Waked claims the sum of $ 1,269 billion for damages allegedly caused by the sale of the  Soho Mall shopping center.

The National Bank acted as trustee in t resale process.

The Ministry of the Presidency alleges that it has not been notified of the admission of the case.

Previously, Judge Zamorano had rejected a similar Waked lawsuit against the BNP, but for the bank’s performance as a fiduciary in the sale of Felix B. Maduro stores.

Earlier reports said that if the Waked claim in the Soho Mall case were successful. It would bankrupt the National Bank.