Former IFARHU Official and a Merchant Arrested for Alleged Embezzlement of Panama Scholarship Funds
Through search warrants, the National Police and the Public Ministry apprehended two people wanted for the alleged commission of the crime against public administration in its form of embezzlement. Among those arrested is a former official who served as regional director of the Institute for the Training and Development of Human Resources (IFARHU) Panama East, and a merchant.
These investigations arise after the alleged disappearance of checks and cards belonging to beneficiaries of different scholarship programs, which were supposedly exchanged at commercial establishments. Both were transferred for the corresponding procedures under orders from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
IFARHU (Instituto para la Formación y Aprovechamiento de Recursos Humanos) is Panama’s government agency responsible for financing education, offering scholarships, academic assistance, and educational loans to students. It supports Panamanian students from primary school through higher education, including doctoral studies and specialized international programs, to foster national talent.
Key aspects of IFARHU include:
- Scholarship Programs: Manages national and international scholarships for high-achieving students, including the General Scholarship Contest.
- PASE-U: Administers the Programa de Asistencia Social Educativa Universal, providing financial assistance to over 671,000 students across primary and secondary education.
- Educational Loans: Offers loans (préstamos educativos) to help pay for university and technical studies.
- Support Services: Provides specialized aid for students with disabilities, athletic, and cultural talents, as well as initiatives to combat child labor.
- Operations: Operates regional offices and student centers, such as in Darién, to facilitate access for residents in hard-to-reach areas.
For information on scholarship applications, you can visit the official IFARHU website or their official Instagram account.
