Business leaders denounce lawmakers’ jail dodge amendment

Panama ‘s  Chamber of Commerce(Cciap), has joined the growing outcry against a legislative amendment that would allow people convicted of corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering or other  high profile crimes  to escape time  behind bars in return  for  community work

Cciap said  on  Sunday, February 2,: “It is incomprehensible that the National Assembly introduces surprising, unclear and excessive elements at the last minute as has been the modification to Article 65of the Criminal Code  “

“We trust that the Executive Branch will be consistent, as it has been shown so far, with what society claims. At the same time, we expect all officials that make up this state power to conduct themselves vertically and with strict adherence to the law, ”.

The Cciap called on all civil society to denounce all acts of corruption of which it witnesses.