Prosecutors call on FBI in Social Security bribery scandal

THE JAIL SENTENCE  handed down to an American Citizen who pleaded guilty to bribing Panama Social Security officials has re-ignited local investigations as prosecutors follow the money trail.

Th  Public Ministry (MP) is requesting judicial assistance from Mexican authorities and the FBIover the payment of bribes to Panamanian officials by the  executive of the German multinational SAP.

Judicial sources told La Prensa that  the request to Mexico is focused on an alleged trip to Mexico made by former Government Innovation Authority Director Eduardo Jaén to meet with executives of the company.

On Wednesday, December 16 a US judge sentenced former SAP executive Vicente Garcia to 22 months in prison for bribing Panama officials.

Jaén is currently being investigated by the first anti-corruption prosecutor for alleged procurement anomalies in a software contract. Jaén has been barred from leaving the country

. Prosecutor Aurelio Vasquez has also requested legal assistance from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Defense attorneys have said that Jaén never traveled to Mexico.

Garcia pleaded guilty to bribing Panama officials to receive a $14.5 million contract.

Among the entities mentionedby the  CSS at the time was Advanced Consulting Panama, a subsidiary of SAP., It was awarded the contract during  the administration of Guillermo Sáez-Llorens, who said it had the support of  the Ministry of Finance.