COLLECTIONS SCANDAL: Bank accounts holding millions seized

PANAMA’S fourth anti-corruption prosecutor has ordered the seizure of accounts linked to Cristóbal Salerno and Luis Cucalón as part of the investigation into the case involving the collections agency Cobranzas del Istmo from which ex-president Ricardo Martinelli received millions of dollars in kickbacks according to Salerno.

The company received commissions totaling at least $54 million over four years during the administration of Ricardo Martinelli for collecting delinquent taxes on behalf of the General Department of Revenue.
Accounts belonging to Salerno, the visible face of the business, had $36.7 million in them. This amount is in addition to the $20 million already turned over by Salerno to prosecutors.
Prosecutors have seized accounts belonging to former Revenue Director Luis Cucalón that had $5.1 million in them. He has been in custody since May 25.
Salerno said that Cucalón was given almost $6 million in kickbacks that were paid through the company, Strategic Hotel Alliance.
Also allegedly involved in the plot is former President Ricardo Martinelli reports La Prensa.
Salerno is expected to be cross-examined by Cucalón’s lawyers, but a date for the confrontation has not been set.
Also charged in the case are Cobranzas officials María Alessandra Salerno, Salerno’s daughter, and Magaly Ramos, the legal representative of the company.