Appeals against house arrest for doctors facing fraud trial

On Monday, August 21, the hearing will be held to decide the appeal presented by both the Public Ministry and the defense of the surgeons Walter Kravcio and Javier Alvarado, both investigated for the alleged commission of aggravated fraud and money laundering through the irregular collection of medical services to US military veterans residing in Panama.

At the hearing, in the Superior Court of Appeals of the First Judicial District, the precautionary measure of home detention that the guarantee judge Marisol Ortíz issued against Kravcio and Alvarado on Thursday, August 10, one day after the apprehension of both in Santa María.

The order to remain under house arrest has an exception: the two doctors will be able to leave home to attend their workday in their offices.

According to the investigation conducted by the Second Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime, Kravcio, and Alvarado would have caused damage of approximately one million 44 thousand dollars to the US Department of the Treasury, which filed the complaint that initiated the investigations eight months ago and that, according to prosecutor Sandy Cedeño, involving another 25 people.

Kravcio gained notoriety as Ricardo Martinelli’s surgeon. In fact, his attentions to the former president have been used by Martinelli’s lawyers to try to obstruct the progress of his legal proceedings.

Doctors Kravcio and Alvarado were contracted by the US government to provide medical services to war veterans in Panama. Later, some stated that they had not attended appointments that were billed and collected by both doctors. This overbilling would have occurred between 2016 and 2021, through four companies used by doctors to charge for the alleged services provided: Paincare Inc., Hemodinámica de Colón, S.A., Neurophys Inc., and Neuro Test Services Corp.

Until now, the sum of $585,681 deposited in local banks has been secured, which is presumed to be part of the money paid by the US government. It was also possible to locate 24 checks for payments totaling $700,000, presumably related to those investigated.