Trial for former minister set for March

FORMER MINISTER of Social Development Guillermo Ferrufino and his wife, Milena Vallarino,will face trial on March 11 for unjustified enrichment.

Ferufino at one time had presidential ambitions, until Ricardo Martinelli told him to lower his sights.

His  investigation began in November 2014, after  photos of mansions he had acquired appeared in social media  and the Comptroller General received a complaint alleging the existence of assets that exceeded estimates stated by the former minister in his economic statements made at the beginning and end of his tenure.

Ferrufino Midesheld  the portfolio during the five years of the Martinellie administration (July 2009-June 2014).

An audit by the Comptroller found that, in that period, Ferrufino resources totaled

$1.1 million, while expenses were $ 3.4 million meaning that expenses exceeded his income by nearly $ 2.3 million.

Audits show that  while in office Ferrufino obtained two loans totaling $715 727, with two state banks: the National (BNP) and the Savings Bank (CA).

First Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Tania Sterling has requested that the judge,Eduardo de la Torre  call four more people to trial in the case, Roberto Augusto Delgado Herrera, Miguel Angel Herrera Marcos, Gastón Enrique Regis Rammos and Martha Elyna Herrera Marcos.

Judge de la Torre set April 15 as an alternate date.

Ferrufino is currently in preventive detention.