40 Martinelli insider bank accounts frozen
A NEW BOMBSHELL has hit the “zero (inner) circle” of the Martinelli administration with the freezing of at least 40 accounts of former vice president and businessman Felipe Alejandro Pipo Virzi, whose name first surfaced over an interest free loan to jailed ex-Supreme Court judge, Alejandro Moncada Luna.
The freeze order came from Third Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, Zuleika Moore, on Thursday, May 28.
The action was taken in the middle of investigations into the alleged commission of crimes against public administration at the expense of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), after the failed Tonosi Irrigation plan in Tonosí, Los Santos
The investigations began after the La Prensa newspaper exposed the failed project in August last year.
The Ecuadorian firm Hidalgo & Hidalgo won the $155 million contract in May 2012.
After being favored with the project, the company wrote a $5.2 million check, dated August 9 2012- to Pipo Virzi.
The authorities have also identified a bank transfer of $5 million made by the same company to a Pipo Virzi account in the Universal Bank, in which the Virzi family is a major shareholder.
In other words, the businessman received payments of some $10 million from Hidalgo & Hidalgo.
Meanwhile, prosecutor sources say the payments correspond to “bribes”. That “is clear”, said the sources.
Pipo Virzi will have to support the payments to authorities investigating a possible case of money laundering, according to sources linked to the investigation.
The check for $5.2 million was endorsed by Pipo Virzi to another account in the Universal Bank, on behalf of Summer Venture, Inc., whose signatories are: Ricardo Ricky Calvo Latorraca, Magdalena Latorraca Esposito de Calvo, and Felipe Alejandro Virzi.
It is not the first time Summer Venture,- registered in April 2012- has been linked to a scandal says La Prensa. It was also mentioned in the investigation against then judge of the Supreme Court Moncada Luna for the purchase of two apartments worth $1.7 million
At that time the Deputy Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, who was acting as prosecutor of Moncada Luna, ordered the seizure of that bank account.
SHARING THE GAINS
Not even five days passed from receipt of the $5.2 million, when it was endorsed Pipo Virzi for the account of Summer Venture, before a dozen checks totaling to $5.2 million dollar were made out to members of the Martinelli “zero cycle” and a former Democratic Change candidate for election to the National Assembly, to a company linked to Martinelli and possibly a former official of MIDA.
The evaluation committee had awarded a “perfect” rating to the company Hidalgo & Hidalgo, who competed with two other bidders.
A copy of the $5.2 million check rests in the record of the Third Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, investigating the disbursement of $37.4 million by the last government to Hidalgo & Hidalgo, despite the project called Tonosí Irrigation System –not – even having land for its construction.
The work was suspended by the current Minister of Agricultural Development, Jorge Arango, who claimed that “this project is not appropriate” “There are indications that there were cost overruns, advances of 20% that were not due. That was the last government modus operandi, “he said.
The $155 million contract included an advance of $31 million for “initial expenses” to “expedite the implementation of the project.”
Arango said: “The company did studies, built a camp, laid roads to reach the study points and equipment was purchased. However, the state has paid more than the company has spent… with no justification for a single penny.”
The evaluation committee awarded Hidalgo & Hidalgo, – which competed with two others – a “perfect rating.”
On Monda, May 18, after several hours of questioning, the Third Anti-Corruption Prosecution ordered the detention of Juan Antonio Hurtado, president of the company.
He was arrested at Tocumen International Airport as he prepared to flee Panama.
Alban Crespo. the company manager, was also arrested at Tocumen while attempting to flee. Crespo was the person who signed – the contract on – behalf of Hidalgo & Hidalgo.
