Boutique owner got $12 million orders for backpacks

THE National Assistance Program (PAN) scandal has returned to the forefront on Panama broadcast media as former Director Rafael Guardia Jaén, continued testifying on Thursday April 18 in the investigation related to irregularities in the purchase of school backpacks during the previous administration.

According to Guardia’s lawyer Victor Orobio, Guardia, who is detained in El Renacer prison, said that there were three contracts, each for $4 million. He said they were all granted to companies related to Poulett Morales, whowas also slated to be questioned  by prosecutors.
 Víctor Almengor lawyer for Morales,  said that there was no irregularities in the contracts She faces charges of embezzlement, fraud, fraud in procurement and corruption, reports La Prensa.

“We have provided the details of the delivery and costs of the backpacks,” he said, noting that the expenses were partly due to the fact that 94 percent of the backpacks were delivered to rural areas.

Also facing charges is former Minister of Education Lucy Molinar.