Martinelli attacked for defense of 4c a square meter land deal

 President Ricardo Martinelli has rushed to th defense of  a Democratic Change deputy who obtained  prime coastal land from the government at  four cents a square meter.

Yanibel Abrego, has been identified  as the person who, Martinelli said on Thursday December 6,  has not done anything wrong. In fact,  he said,  the case "sounds like a vendetta from someone”

 According to research by La Prensa , the Government sold Abrego   a plot of land  extending over 130,000 square meters, for  four cents a square meters, with a white sand beach.

The farm is located in Majagual in Capira, Panama, , and the sale, was declared as "public interest". The deputy switched to the governing party a month before.

"It is not surprising that President Martinelli defens this sweetheart deal" Weeden told La Prensa , adding that the president himself has been involved in such scandals.

Referring to the deal obtained by  Abrego, Weeden said it is a "plunder  of the state" since no one evaluated such a price as  "reasonable" much less in the case  of coastal land.

"From Juan  Hombrón to Paitilla, Martinelli has sought to justify all sales," he added..

Weeden was referring to previous scandals where speculators and developers were attempting to obtain free title to valuable properties.