Italy notified of moves to void $125 million radar contract

AS FORMER Minister of Security Jose Raul Mulino, prepares to spend Christmas behind bars for alleged irregularities in a $125 million contract with Italian company Selex,  moves to cancel the deal  containing   a $25 million bribe  are progressing.

The Third Chamber of the Supreme Court has sent a diplomatic message to Italy to notify the legal representatives of Selex and Finmeccanica about the admission of an application for annulment of the contract with the Panamanian government to purchase 19 radars.

The court has sent the notifications to Paolo Iaboni, the legal representative of Selex, and Giovanni De Gennaro, the legal representative of Finmeccanica.

The lawsuit was filed by current Minister of the Presidency Alvaro Aleman. The court has ordered the provisional suspension of the contract.

The government has sought to void the contract due to provisions that included a $25 million payment that Panama officials have classified as a bribe.

The contract with Selex was signed by  Mulino, whose family and Cambio  Democratico (CD)supporters  are protesting his detention.as “political persecution”