New money laundering investigation into Tonosi project

THE FAILED irrigation project in Tonosi that has already embroiled a number  of the zero (inner) circle of  former president Ricardo Martinelli, is about to become a money laundering investigation.

The case is already being investigated by Third Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Zuleika Moore, who forwarded the case so that the new probe could be opened reports La Prensa.

Moore is investigating charges related to the alleged payment of bribes and alleged fraud in procurement.

The new investigation has been opposed by Rogelio Cruz, the lawyer for Porfirio Ellis, who is charged with facilitating the bribes between the contractor Hidalgo & Hidalgo and government officials. Multi-millions of dollars in  ayoffs to numerous Martinelli confidants have also been uncovered.

Cruz has argued that any new charges should be part of the same case file.

The state paid Hidalgo & Hidalgo about $31 million despite no work ever being done on the project. A number of former government officials, as well as representatives of the company and private business owners, have been charged and a key figure, former vice president  Pipi Virzi  accused of distributing the “paybacks” remains under house arrest and the family owned Univeral Bank has fallen victim to the scandal and is no more.