Lawyer mad at president as ex-Minister detained,

AFTER 15 HOURS of questioning by the Third Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Zuleyka Moore, Óscar Osorio, former minister of Agriculture Development during the government of Ricardo Martinelli headed for the pre-trial detention cells of the DIJ), in Ancón.

His interrogation was part of the investigation into irregularities in an irrigation project in Tonosí, Los Santos.
In 2012, Osorio signed a $155 million contract for the project with Ecuadorian company Hidalgo & Hidalgo.
The project was never started despite the firm collecting $37.4 million. The investigation is focused on how thatmoney was disbursed.
Osorio’s lawyer, Héctor Zabala, said his client was innocent.
“He is being accused because advances were paid,” said Zabala, noting that it is common to give companies advance payments for major projects.
He also expressed his displeasure with the prosecutor and President Juan Carlos Varela.
“I regret having voted for him,” he angrily told reporters reports La Prensa.
He said he will be preparing a motion seeking to have charges against his client dismissed.
Also charged in the case are former Vice President Felipe “Pipo” Virzi and Hidalgo & Hidalgo officials Juan Antonio Hurtado and Marco Alban Crespo, who were arrested when they tried to leave the country.