Former Health Ministry  chief heads for detention

A Guarantees Judge on Wednesday ordered the provisional detention of Leonardo Labrador former head of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), and the house arrest of his wife Ana Lorena Chang, former head of Public Health of the Metropolitan Region and laboratory technician Carmen Arosemena, who works at the Minsa and the Social Security Fund, for the alleged crime against public health.

Chang did not attend the hearing but observed the proceedings virtually as she has tested positive for covid-19.

 Judge Marisol Ortiz took into account the evidence presented by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, which indicates that they have allegedly violated sanitary regulations by carrying out swab tests without the Sermedic Panama Clinic having permission to operate as a laboratory that is granted by the Minsa.

The anti-corruption prosecutor, Omar Jaén, announced that the house arrest decision was appealed and that the hearing will take place on February 16.

Labrador’s defense appealed the provisional arrest warrant, which will also be heard on February 16.

“We have a large number of elements of conviction presented and we are going to continue collecting. Currently, there is evidence that 388 swabs were carried out without authorization from the health authorities and they are investigating to see if there are more links and evidence,” said Jaén.

Labrador was charged with the alleged commission of crimes against public health and the corruption of a public servant. While Chang and Arosemena were only charged with the alleged crime against public health.