Italy -Panama bribes hearing set for March 4

JUST TWO MONTHS before Panama’s elections,  Valter Lavítola the link-man between the Italian colossus Finmeccanica and Panama, with allegations of bribery leading to the president, will sit in the dock in a Rome court room.

He is the alleged deal maker between the Government of Panama and Paolo Pozzessere, former commercial director of the f Italian aerospace and defense, giant.

At the preliminary hearing the prestigious international corruption prosecutor Paolo Ielo will, accuse Lavitola, who once hobnobbed and partied with Panama government insiders, of having attempted to divert up to $18 million dollars in bribes with President Ricardo Martinelli , and and other unidentified government officials included as recipients with all the funds “covertly hidden” says the final investigation, reported by La Prensa.
This is the preliminary hearing at which the parties set their positions at which  the prosecution will ask for the accused  to go to trial for the alleged crimes of corruption in Panama.
After the hearing, the judge will resolve all the issues raised and, if necessary, set the next hearing or, ultimately, may determine that prosecutors continue to investigate the crime and bring more evidence.
According to confidential documents seen by La Prensa, Valter Lavítola was the center of political- administrative relations between Finmeccanica and Panama – and “created Agafea Corp., SA in which Ricardo Martinelli had a cash interest."
Rome prosecutors determined in the summary that the Panamanian ruler was “The hidden economic beneficiary and final recipient" of the bribes that would have been paid by Italian companies Telespazio, Agusta Westland and Selex, part of Finmeccanica, and Panama registered Agafea Corp., SA for “counseling and consulting.”
However, Martinelli’s alleged involvement appears as "passive corruption” and “not punishable” because he is foreigner, and for his diplomatic immunity and because the crimes were not committed in Italy.
The alleged offenses date back to 2010, when the Government of Panama signed under a security agreement with Italy, a contract of about $250 million with Finmeccanica, to supply six helicopters, 19 radars and a digital map.
Meanwhile, Naples prosecutors will in coming days, set a trial date for alleged corruption in the failed construction of modular prisons in Panama by the Italian company Svemark and Impregilo a case in which Lavítola is accused and Martinelli’s name also appears as subject of the " passive corruption " but " not punishable, " says La Prensa.
Finmeccanica , in which the Italian state , has a 30% participation, has several ongoing legal battles.in the The Court of Busto Arsizio, in northern Italy, Giuseppe Orsi , former chairman of Finmeccanica , and Bruno Spagnolini , Agusta Westland ex-administrador,are being tried for international corruption because they allegedly made bribes of up to $69 million to senior Government of India to obtain a contract to sell 12 helicopters for $759 million , also in 2010.
The latest corruption scandal in Finmeccanica focuses on Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. Naples prosecutors have opened an investigation into the alleged payment of bribes to government, precisely because of the evidence that brought to light several numbered accounts in Switzerland for Paolo Pozzessere.