Alleged PAN kickback link leaves country

ADOLFO DE OBARRIO, the private secretary of former President Ricardo Martinelli, fled the country on a private jet on Tuesday November 25, hours after he held a press conference to deny any role in distributing kickbacks from the National Assistance Program (PAN).

His lawyer, Edna Ramos, said her client traveled to Puerto Rico after he said that testimony linking him to irregularities in the PAN was “political persecution” to harm Martinelli.
The lawyer added that De Obarrio had a “scheduled family commitment” and will return.
His sister lives in Puerto Rico where she served as a consul during the government of Martinelli reports La Prensa
On the television program Open Debate on Monday evening, presenter Hugo Famanía said that De Obarrio had left the country on a “private jet.” Ramos, who was on the program, responded that the news could be true.
De Obarrio has not been formally charged, so there is nothing that prevents him from leaving the country.