9 defendants facing justice in PAN food scandal
PANAMA’S 15TH Criminal Court was packed with former high ranking officials from the previous administration and their lawyers on Monday November 23 for the preliminary hearing of charges related to irregularities in the National Assistance Prpgram (PAN).
Among the nine defendants are former ministers Lucy Molinar (Education) and Federico Suárez (Public Works), former Deputy Minister of the Presidency María Fábrega and former PAN Director Giacomo Tamburrelli.
The hearing, conducted by Judge Leslie Loaiza, was scheduled for 8:30 a.m., but started 30 minutes late.
Missing was Adolfo de Obarrio, who remains at large. He is the private secretary of former President Ricardo Martinelli. His lawyer, Edna Ramos, was at the hearing.
Others charged in the case are former PAN official Angel Famiglietti, businessman Rubén De Icaza, former Comptroller Gioconda Torres de Bianchini and former Deputy Minister of Social Development Marta Susana de Varela.
The case revolves around contracts issued for dehydrated food to a company called Lerkshore International Limited. An audit has found the state suffered nearly $45 million in damages under the contract.
Former president Ricardo Martinelli is also facing charges related to the case in the Supreme Court.
