Martinelli’s  former inner circle behind bars

At least five high-profile officials of the administration of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) have suffered harsh judicial setbacks in recent months. Some have received convictions for crimes ranging from embezzlement, and corruption to money laundering reports La Prensa.

Adolfo Chichi De Obarrio,  Martinelli’s former private secretary was sentenced on March 10 to 10 years in prison and a $5 million fine for money laundering related to the Blue Apple Society.

De Obarrio also maintains a process for alleged commission unjustified enrichment and cases of alleged embezzlement in relation to the management of funds assigned through the National Aid Program (PAN).

Other officials of that government administration who are facing sentences are the former directors of the National Security Council (CSS), Alejandro Garuz and Gustavo Pérez.

On March 7, the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court confirmed of them a sentence of 50 months in prison for crimes against the inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy through the execution of illegal wiretapping in the period 2012-2014.

Also on March 10, the First Criminal Case Settlement Court 120-month prison sentence to Pérez and the former director of the National Aid Program (PAN), Giacomo Tamburelli, for embezzlement, related to the loss of wiretapping equipment valued at $10.8 million.

Guillermo Ferrufino, who served during that period as Minister of Social Development (Mides), also faces two sentences.

The first of these was announced on March 14, 2022 in which he was sentenced to 48 months in prison for corruption of a public servant issued by the Third Liquidating Court. Associate of Criminal Cases.

The second sentence of six years for unjustified enrichment was issued by the Second Settlement Court for Criminal Cases and confirmed by the Settlement Court for Criminal Cases in a ruling on February 1.

DGI director
The former director of the General Directorate of Revenue (DGI), Luis Enrique Cucalón, maintains a conviction, issued on September 14, 2018, by the liquidated First Criminal Circuit Court and was sentenced to 96 months in prison for embezzlement and corruption.

Meanwhile, the First Settlement Court for Criminal Cases, through a mixed order of March 14, 2023, issued n appeal against Cucalón and three other people for alleged money laundering.

The former director of the PAN Rafael Guardia reached in July 2018 a penalty and collaboration agreement of 60 months in prison for corruption and embezzlement.