Land titling appeal should not have been dismissed dissenting judge

The charges against the former director of titling of the Land Administration Authority (Anati), related to the Juan Hombrón land titling scandal should not have been dismissed said the dissenting judge.

Anabelle Villamonte and five others were acquitted in a titling affair that involved her former employers.

Judge Luis Mario Carrasco in the dissenting opinion of the ruling issued on Feb. 28 by the Second Court, which upheld the discontinuance of criminal prosecution for environmental offenses said The Law 80 of December 31, 2009 allows the recognition of rights of possession, but prevented the sale of the 54 hectares of coastal land in Juan Hombrón, Cocle province.
Carrasco said Law 80 prohibits the titling in mangrove areas or protected areas, and he felt there was enough information in the record to continue with an appeal to court against an earlier dismissal.. He argued that the charges against Villamonte and five other defendants cannot be dismissed.
The appeal judgment was given by judge rapporteur Secundino Mendieta with the support of his colleague and president of the Second Court, Wilfredo Saenz.
Villamonte was also acquitted in another court of charges involving titling in Paitilla.