Two Files and Almost $3.5 Million Under Investigation. Panama’s Enrique Lau Cortés Case.
This is how Enrique Lau Cortés, the former director of the Social Security Fund (CSS), was taken into custody. His arrest was legalized this Wednesday, October 7, by the judge of guarantees, Xenia Pérez. A lunch recess was declared at midday. When the session resumes, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office will request charges be filed for alleged unjust enrichment and money laundering.
Former CSS director Enrique Lau Cortés arrested after raid on his residence. Escorted by police officers, without handcuffs, wearing a surgical mask and carrying a plastic bag with medicine.
Two Files and Almost $3.5 Million Under Investigation. The Enrique Lau Cortés Case.
Enrique Lau Cortés, former director of the Social Security Fund (CSS), was arrested Tuesday, October 6, but he had been under scrutiny for at least a year before…when the Comptroller General of the Republic ordered the seizure of his assets up to the sum of $2.9 million. The decision, adopted by Comptroller Anel Flores on November 25, 2025, is related to an investigation into medications and medical-surgical supplies that the Social Security Fund (CSS) acquired during his tenure as director.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into alleged embezzlement in this case. But Lau’s arrest was not part of this case. It is related to another case against him for alleged unjust enrichment and money laundering. In this case, the prosecution estimates a financial loss to the State of $500,000. Tuesday’s operation, dubbed “Muralla” (Wall), included raids and culminated in the arrest of the former director of the Social Security Fund (CSS) in an apartment in the exclusive Santa María residential complex. He will be brought before a judge for his arraignment hearing.
$2.9
Amount in millions up to which the Comptroller’s Office ordered the seizure of Lau Cortés’s assets
$500
Amount in thousands of dollars of the possible patrimonial damage preliminarily estimated by the Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation that led to his arrest.
$400
Amount in millions transferred from the CSS to the Central Government during 2023 and the first months of 2024.
5
Number of properties where investigators carried out searches.
The Processes.
These are two investigations, involving different amounts, although the investigation of both cases is being handled by the anti-corruption prosecutor Eduardo Gutiérrez. At the moment, there appears to be no relationship between the two processes. The investigation into alleged embezzlement related to the purchase of medicines originated from a forensic audit by the Comptroller’s Office that found “excessive” purchases of medical and surgical supplies and medicines, without adequate controls.
This is stated in Resolution 3988-2025-LEG/UA, dated November 25, 2025. On that day, Comptroller Anel Flores ordered precautionary measures to be taken against Lau and his assets to be seized up to $2.9 million. The resolution is based on a memorandum from the National Directorate of Investigations and Forensic Auditing. The period examined extends from July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2024, a period that coincides with a significant part of Lau’s tenure at the CSS.
Lau was arrested in Santa María. The former CSS director is being investigated in two separate cases: one for alleged embezzlement and the other for alleged unjust enrichment and money laundering. Both are being handled by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
