Kickback accused moved to house arrest
FORMER Panama Vice-president “Pipo” Virzi caught up in a network of interlinking cases linked to money laundering and corruption has been moved from detention in an Ancon police cell to house arrest, a few days after he returned $5 million to the state..
Currently he is facing charges alleging money laundering and corruption, related to the failed Tonosí irrigation system in the province of Los Santos.
According to the investigations being conducted by the The Third Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, of Zuleika Moore, Virzi received at least $10 million from the Ecuadorian construction firm Hidalgo & Hidalgo (H & H), after the signing of a contract with the State in 2012.
After receiving payments from H & H, Virzi appropriations totaling millions to people close to the inner circle of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014).
Expanding on his statements of June 16 match, Virzi was clear that his partner’s Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Calvo was the person who distributed the payments from H & H. to people named by Martinelli.
Virzi Also pointed to the president as the one giving “Instructions” and overlooking the distribution of the kickbacks.