Ex-ombudsman gets 8 years for embezzlement

Panama former Ombudsman, Patria Portugal, was sentenced on Monday  to  eight years  jail time for embezzlement, to the detriment of the Ombudsman’s Office.

She is also disqualified  from exercising public functions for four years after serving the prison sentence.

The decision was handed down  by Judge , Leira Terán Turcios.

The former defender had been accused of signing two contracts, one for $249,845 with the company Imaginarium Studio, SA for the redesign of the institution’s website and the other for $199,983 with the company  En Avant, SA,for training.

The Prosecutor General’s Office stated that the requirements of institution’sweb pages were not complied with and that the contracts were unnecessary.

Portugal was removed from office on August 5, 2013