WIRETAP SCANDAL: Criminal complaints expand
THE EXAMINATION of boxes of documents containing information related to the acquisition of equipment for wiretapping during the administration of Ricardo Martinelli, will continue on Monday They were found at the home of former police chief and ex-Secretary of the National Security Council Gustavo Pérez, currently in detention at La Gran Joya prison.
A source close to the investigation confirmed to La Prensa, that the process of analyzing the papers, including quotations for the purchase of wiretapping equipment from an Israeli company.
The source said that first review was of documents related high profile operations executed by the National Police when Perez was in charge.
Meanwhile the list of victims of Martinelli-era eavesdropping who plan criminal complaints continues to grow.
They include Supreme Court Judge Victor Benavides and the President of the National Bar Association, José Alberto Alvarez and Audits Prosecutor, Guido Rodriguez.
The public prosecutor’s office has requested data from the Security Council on the system used to sort interceptions and who received reports.
He also requested copies of contracts for the purchase of equipment and a listing tasks.
Two being investigated in this research are fugitives Ronny Rodriguez Mendoza and William Pitti Navarro.
The Audits Prosecutor Guido Rodriguez, has also opened an investigation into the purchase of one of the spy machines through the National Assistance Program (PAN), which is missing.
He said that his office can file charges against Alejandro Perez and Garuz (the other former secretary of the Security Council, also in La Gran Joya jail) if any PAN involvement in the purchase of equipment is found.
DEFENSE VIEWPOINTS
Meanwhile, Armando Fuentes, Perez’s attorney, said he was not opposed to the prosecution’s investigations but needed greater procedural fairness. He said the detention applied to his client is excessive, since the Penal Code provides for sentences of 2-4 years for this crime.
Christopher Grove, lawyer for Garuz said that the investigations is handled through the media which has pressured the authorities to maintain the arrest of those involved.
