Bribes scandal witness who hid in Panama, back in Italy
Valter Lavitola, the man who may hold the smoking gun in an inquiry into Panama’s purchase of helicopters and radar equipment from an Italian conglomerate has ended 8 months on the run and is back in Italy.
He arrived in Rome from Buenos Aires where he had been since fleeing from Panama.
He is wanted to face charges of “extortion in collusion with Giampaolo Tarantini and his wife” against former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi." Tarantini, is a businessman who provided prostitutes (escorts) for the former leaers parties in the Grazioli Palace [Berlusconi's residence in Rome]."
More importantly for Panama Lavitola will also have to explain to prosecutors about his involvement in the bribes scandal of the Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica which sold helicopters and radar equipment to Panama. His name has appeared frequently during investigations.
La Republica says that Lavítola decided to surrender to justice even though he faces jail. "I'm worried about going to prison. I have fear” The former high roller who in Panama was given security escorts by presidential guards, was carrying only a suitcase and a backpack," when he arrived in Rome said the publication.
Among the cases investigated by the Justice Office of Naples are contracts between Finmeccanica and Panama, where prosecutors analyzed the hypothesis of international corruption that would include yet unidentified Panamanian officials.
Lavítola could be key to the prosecutors in this case. President Martinelli has said that Lavitola was "very instrumental in Panama" when the contract was negotiated.
Meanwhile the Italian Government said that it has not been directly involved in the process of negotiating contracts that have been managed entirely by Finmeccanica.
The statement came through its Foreign Ministry in response to questions from Senator Elio Lannutti on the controversial contract for $250 million that the Government of Panama signed with Finmeccanica, for the purchase of 6 helicopters, 19 radars and 1 digital map.
The letter from the Italian Foreign Ministry on April 4 specifically addresses the question of Lannutti on the category of "official" that president, Ricardo Martinelli, and Public Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino ascribed to a letter from Massimo Pugnali , Head of Commercial Coordination and Development of Finmeccanica, sent to the Panamanian government on January 19 says La Prensa.
The letter, delivered by the Italian ambassador to Panama, Giancarlo Cursio-emphasized "the proven consistency and transparency of the above contracts …" referring to the serious questions related to cost overruns and commissions, just as several senior Finmeccanica were charged in Italy for the existence of a "black box" fed with overcharges on contracts to bribe officials abroad.
On January 23, President Martinelli announced the arrival of the Finmeccanica. letter. “The letter has arrived from Italy and I hope all the media and those who who have morbidly and maliciously misinformed what happened to the radar, will give the same prominence they gave to all the detractors”
Mulino, concluded the debate closed and said nothing of the fact that the letter, certifying its transparency was from the company fulfilling the contract.
The implication was that it was an “official” letter because it was delivered by the Italian Ambassador. The Italian government says it “merely served as a conduit to the President [of Panama] and proceeded to deliver a note of explanation written by Finmeccanica”
In addition, the Italian Foreign Ministry letter wrote to Lannutti noting that "the Italian Government therefore acted through its own embassy in Panama, provided within the institutional and legal limits allowed and not go beyond their own functions."
With this last statement, the Italian Government made clear the concerns of Senator Lannutti, expressed during his many parliamentary questions on the danger to the institutions of his country when the President of Panama would give official status to a purely business letter.
Senator Lannutti’s concern was that "the assertions made in Panama may create liability to the Italian authorities, especially in a business that could hide a super bribery."
"Finally the [Italian] Government has responded to one of my parliamentary questions relating to camouflage… an obvious misrepresentation made to pass as official notice, "said Lannutti to La Prensa.
The Italian government's response to Lannutti is the triumph of the independent Senator’s persistence.It is the first response received by Lannutti, since September 5, 2011 when he referred to what he called "suspicious behavior" by executives of the company 30% of shares were owned by the state. Lanutti praised the media’s role in focusing on the issue.
That same day he mentioned a character very close to former President Silvio Berlusconi, who played play a key role in the formalization of contracts between Finmeccanica and Panama: Valter Lavítola.
This colorful character, and former editor of Avanti, went from moving in Panamanian circles of power, to being a fugitive from justice.
A series of emails made public in December 2011, pointed to the close relationship between Lavítola and important members of the Government of Panama, says La Prensa..
Lavítola moved around the country with bodyguards and official vehicles, recommending appointments to the Canal, while making efforts to be appointed Consul of Panama in Rome.
But his relationship with Panama went further. Through the investigations that followed in Italy for alleged extortion, the existence of a Panamanian corporation Agafea SA, linked to the payment of commissions on contracts with Finmeccanica, came to light,.
After learning of this discovery by the Italian courts, the Panamanian government revealed the existence of a letter from Selex (a Finmeccanica company that sold the 19 radars) canceling its contract with Agafea. However, the price for radars remained the same.
Karen Grace a Panamanian woman romantically linked to Lavítola was listed as president of Agafea
Lavitola went missing in September 2011, and allegedly left Panama in December of that year, bound for South America.
Among the cases related to Lavitola, under investigation by judicial authorities in of Naples related Lavítola are contracts between Finmeccanica and Panama, where prosecutors analyzed the hypothesis of international corruption that would include yet unidentified Panamanian officials.
