Facing Charges of Alleged Money Laundering in Panama: Former DGI Director Publio De Gracia and his Wife.
Former Panama General Directorate of Revenue (DGI) Director Publio De Gracia was arrested on August 10, 2026, during Operation Cuestor. He faces allegations of unjustified enrichment and money laundering tied to an estimated $724,682.39 state patrimonial injury from a 2025 comptroller audit. Authorities also seized related real estate, vehicles, and bank accounts.
Investigation Overview
- Arrest Date: August 10, 2026.
- Key Figures: Publio De Gracia (former DGI Director, 2019–2024) and another individual.
- Enforcing Agencies: Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalía Anticorrupción) and the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ).
- Origin: A 2025 audit report by the Comptroller General of the Republic showing an unverified personal asset increase.
Asset Seizures and Measures
- Properties: 3 real estate properties ordered seized
- Vehicles: 6 high-end vehicles (including BMW, Lexus, and Toyota Prado models).
- Finances: 4 bank accounts frozen/apprehended.
Context and Legal Status
- Distinction from Tax-Credit Case: Judicial authorities clarified that this specific enrichment and money-laundering probe operates separately from broader, distinct investigations into past e-Tax 2.0 system tax credit irregularities.
- Legal Process: The case remains at an active investigative stage under the Public Ministry (Ministerio Público), with the presumption of innocence applying to all implicated parties.
The former head of the DGI Publio De Gracia was arrested Monday morning at his apartment, along with his partner. He has been in police custody ever since.
The Partner of Former DGI Director Publio De Gracia Continues to Work for the Panama State
Image of Ninoshka Ríos working for the Panama State
A woman, identified as the partner of former Revenue Director Publio De Gracia, surrendered last Tuesday and will now be charged with money laundering. Ríos appeared at the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by a group of lawyers. She reportedly expressed her intention to cooperate with the investigation and stated that her former boss had been harassing her. She remains in custody.
The Prosecutor is Requesting the Provisional Detention of Publio De Gracia and his Wife, Due to the Risk of Flight and Destruction of Evidence.
Anti-corruption prosecutor Eduardo Rodríguez requested the provisional detention of former revenue director Publio De Gracia and his wife Elaine Salterio, both charged with alleged money laundering. De Gracia also faces charges of unjust enrichment. With the prosecutor’s intervention, the hearing resumed before Judge Fermín Bonilla, who the previous day had legalized the arrest and formally charged the couple. Both had been arrested Monday morning at their residence.
In Panama Publio De Gracia Remains in Provisional Detention While his Wife is Required to Report Periodically: Defense will Appeal
A judge ordered the provisional detention of Publio De Gracia, former director of the DGI, who is being investigated for alleged unjustified enrichment and money laundering.
A judge ordered the provisional detention of former Director General of Revenue, Publio De Gracia, on Wednesday, August 12. De Gracia is under investigation for the alleged crimes of unjust enrichment and money laundering. The decision was made during a hearing on multiple requests related to the investigation being conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation began on May 25, 2026, following a report from the Comptroller General of the Republic that detected an unjustified increase in assets of $724,682.39 attributed to the former official.
The Prosecutor’s Office also indicated that it is analyzing financial transactions, use of cash, credit card expenses, transfers and transfers of properties, vehicles and debts, in order to establish the traceability of the funds. The defense team for the former head of the DGI announced they will appeal the pretrial detention order. The appeal hearing is scheduled for August 31 at 2:00 pm before the Superior Court of Appeals. During the hearing, the defense had requested that De Gracia be given a less severe precautionary measure, arguing, among other things, that the former official has remained in Panama and has cooperated with the justice system, in addition to having family and work ties.
What Measure did Publio De Gracia’s wife receive?
The former official’s wife, Elaine Salteiro González, was also charged in the investigation. However, the judge did not order her pretrial detention. He imposed conditions such as reporting to the court every Monday and Friday, a travel ban, a requirement to remain at her registered address, and a prohibition on communicating with De Gracia. The investigation continues as the Public Prosecutor’s Office seeks to establish the origin and traceability of the funds that are part of the investigation. According to the information presented during the hearing, De Gracia was apprehended on August 10, as part of the so-called Operation Cuestor.
