Mulino threatens cancelation of helicopter contracts

The cash strapped  Italian government got a veiled threat from Panama’s Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino  on Tuesday April 24.

Mulino asked the Italian government "to declare that there was no corruption in the contracts signed with Panama," according to and EFE news agency  and if was not received, Panama could void the lucrative contracts with the conglomerate Finmeccanica.

 “If there is no  rectification the Italian Government", contracts with Finmeccanica for $250 million for the purchase of 19 radar, 6 helicopters and a digital map, "will be evaluated.

Mulino’s request comes in middle of the widening international corruption investigation of Italian companies in Panama by prosecutors in Naples, as well as an alleged link with the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, and  the payment of bribes by Valter Lavítola, a key figure in negotiations with Finmeccanica. 

"We prefer to run so without the contracts … you can buy helicopters and radars elsewhere, "said Mulino, despite his previous announcement that the radars were already in Panama.

 Meanwhile, the director and CEO of Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi (who has said that neither Augusta Westland  or the conglomerate promised bribes or a helicopter to Lavítola or  the Panama Government), was included Tuesday in the investigation of Italian prosecutors in the  case  ofthe alleged payment of bribes from the sale of 12 helicopters to India.

On Wednesday, La Prensa revealed more prosecution documents introducing the names of  Cuban-American businessman Roger Oruña, Frankie Francisco attorney and one of the president;’s sons,  , Ricardo Martinelli Linares.(Rich).