OFF THE CUFF: Missing judge to appear at Assembly Monday

AFTER an overnight media frenzy with journalists and police surrounding the entrance to his apartment building following a call for his arrest when he failed to show before a National Assembly Committee, Supreme Court Justice, Alejandro Moncada Luna, said he would appear on Monday at 10:00 am.

The statements were given by the judge through TVN Channel 2. but established no contact with the police or the Assembly whose repreentatives  visired several buildings looking for the judge, who made no attempt to contact the Assembly prosecutor or the  committee, while evening viewers of TVN were treated to an on air interview while Moncada Luna remained holed up in an undisclosed location protesting his innocence.

He is facing allegations of illegal enrichment following his purchase of two apartments for $1.7 million, although his salary as a judge is only $10,000 dollar a month. The purchase of one of the apartments was by cash.

Police and  the Assembly prosecutor visited several locations but were unable to find the judge.
“I am a human being. I have nothing to hide … I’ll justify the process along with evidence and clarify everything., I do not have to run, I did not go to the meeting because I was not properly notified . It is a known fact that I will not open my emails, “he said via a telephone.
“I’ll deal with this process. They have not yet heard me,” he added.
Later, the prosecutor in this case, Pedro Miguel González, who originally called for the arrest of Moncada Lunas arrest, and prohibition from leaving the country said he had asked police to let him into his residence in Coco del Mar.
“He’s not a suspect. He should arrive in the Assembly on Monday with the dignity of the office he has” he added, reports La Prensa.
Moncada Luna was notified last Friday through an email, said the prosecutor.
The Criminal Procedure Code, Article 153 allows for email notifications.
The police action began after Moncada Luna and his attorney, Sidney Sitton, did not show for the initial hearing although they had been notified.
The process against the judge responds to a complaint filed on 7th of this month before the Assembly by the National Bar Association (CNA) and the Citizens Alliance for Justice.
On Friday night a National Police, a team went to his residence at the Ocean Sky building in Coco del Mar at approximately 8:00 pm
Two hours later when officials could not enter the building, the deputy prosecutor asked the judges of the Assembly Guarantees Committee for authorization entere the property, and this was granted
However, reports La Prensa the raid did not take effect because Article 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code requires that such actions can only be performed between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm, except for serious or extreme emergency cases.
Gonzalez went to the building and announced that the search would take place at 8:00 am and the police remained at the building
MOncada-Luna’s attorney blamed Gonzalez for discrediting the process and advised his client not to appear before the authorities of the Assembly, says La Prensa.
Meanwhile, Sitton told media that neither he nor his client attended the hearing because they were never notified.

Meanwhile former president Ricardo Martinelli, who appointed Moncada Luna, was back in full Twitter mode with personal attacks on Gonzales
The Panama Soap Opera leaves observers wondering how any other citizen would fare if he was a no show because he doesn’t check his e-mails