Cases against ham man who wants to be mayor, thrown out

Two lawsuits against the legislator who wants to be mayor,  and doled out to his constituents,30,000 hams costing $675,000  have been thrown out by Panama’s Supreme Court.

The deputy chairman of the National Assembly, Chello Sergio Galvez, who had continued to pass out hams even after a storm of criticism, said "Justice was done (…) God's justice and righteousness on earth."
The two complaints filed against him for the use of public funds for the purchase of hams that were delivered to his constituents last December, an act described by the opposition as "political patronage".
The Supreme Court, rejection of the two lawsuits was unanimous.
The lawsuits were filed on 18 and 29 December by the Movement Arraiján 2000, charging embezzlement and against the integrity of the vote.
In his view, "The focus on the hams was made to damage the figure of Chello". According to the judge of the Court, Alejandro Moncada Luna, rapporteur of the case, the allegations missed out in two of the four conditions of eligibility set out regulating the investigation of deputies. He explained, for example, i Galvez's home was not included and there was not suitable evidence of the offense.
Gálvez, questioned for his management style as well as his full use of colloquial phrases, announced late last year that he will seek the nomination of the Democratic Change (CD) party to run for Mayor of Panama in the 2014 election.
The post is currently held by CD insider Roxana Mendez who while fightin internal battles with the city councilors The field is likely to be a crowded one including former presidential candidate Balbina Hererra already campaigning, and announcements from Panamenista Jose Blandon, former frontman for ousted mayor Bosco Vallarino, and ex-TV presenter Ana Perez, who wants to improve the cultural outlook of the city, and the race would be a strange one without the perennial presence of outspoken law professor Antonio Bernal.
Bobby Velasquez also wants to run. He is a former head of the civil defense service (SINAPROC) and was the 2009 PRD candidate who led Bosco in the polls until allegations arose that his campaign had received donations from jailed pyramid fraudster David Murcia. It was later revealed that Murcia’s money went to the CD.
It is unlikely to be a two horse race and politics in the city won’t be boring.