Former Mayor Bosco facing multiple embezzlement charges

PANAMA’S former Panameñista mayor Bosco Ricardo Vallarino is facing multiple charges of embezzlement while in office . He resigned for "health" reasons in January 2012.

His lawyers have filed appeal against against a controversial investigation and indictment, by the Third Anti-Corruption Prosecution, for embezzlement to the detriment of the district capital .

Public Ministry sources reported says La Prensa  that the appeal was filed in the Sixth Criminal Court , but the order issued last October by Lorena Colonel prosecutor for an inquiry, set for next week, has not been suspended.
The appeal is over audits conducted by the Comptroller 's Office in 2012 which formed the basis for the charges against the former mayor , with an alleged number of contradictions and inaccuracies on the amounts of the contracts investigated.
Vallarino 's legal defense argues that his client has not been served personally as provided by law, on the order issued by the prosecutor.
Vallarino is accused along with former general secretary of the municipality Jaime Barroso, for irregularities in the handling of contracts over $98,000 in municipal consulting surveillance.
The Vallarino , and Barroso , face a similar process by the Second Anti-Corruption Prosecutor , Lizzett Chevalier, in which they are accused of an alleged embezzlement in the amount of $285,000, also for security contracts.
Vallarino 's lawyers submitted an appeal against the controversial investigation of this second case.
Last August, the result of another audit ordered in October 2012 by the Comptroller of the Republic , a contract for $ 580,000 between the Municipality of Panama and the company Shamrock Services Inc., for the maintenance of parks and squares of the capital was investigated and the seizure of property of the former mayor and former general secretary was ordered.
The Comptroller sent the case to the Court of Auditors , which in turn ordered the Prosecution yo investigate in this instance requested the precautionary seizure of goods of Vallarino and Barroso , and three companies that provided services for the mayor.
The order for sequestration of movable and immovable property of the two former officials, became effective on August 2.