CD lawyer files criminal charge against electoral judge

The disturbed waters of Panamal politics got choppier  on Tuesday September 26   as the Democratic Changer lawyer filed a criminal complaint against Electoral Tribunal (TE), Judge Erasmo Pinilla

Attorney Hugo Polo told local media that the legal action was taken in a personal capacity, due to the alleged commission of the crime of libel.

"Pinilla has no evidence to support the story against me," the lawyer said.

He added that statements by the judge hurt his family and his profession. "Political parties depart,, governments depart, but the name and surname of a person is what is left," he said.
Recently, Judge Pinilla denounced the existence of a campaign against him, which he said was orchestrated by Polo, the lawyer for Democratic Change, and Luis Eduardo Camacho, Secretary of State Communications.
The judge said that Camacho and Polo were behind a complaint filed against him by a former official of the TE (Javier Bosso Cambells) on September13 before the Prosecutor of the Court of Auditors.
Other commentators have described the complaint as political persecution as part of a plot to seize control of the Tribunal to enable President Ricardo Martinelli to take another run at retaining office.