Comptroller nixes 21 years back pay to police chief

Panama’s Comptroller General, Gioconda de Bianchini, has blocked the 21 years of back pay to to Gustavo Perez, director of the National Police.

The payment for 21 years pay as a lieutenant   in General Noriega’s army,was authorized by the Security Minister, Jose Raul Mulino, and was believed to amount to around $123,000

According to the comptroller she could, not endorse such a payment because "it is not legally viable.” But she  avoided giving details of here decision and the amount of the payment  that had been authorized.

Bianchini said, however, that this is a final decision and that there is no way the payment will be approved in the future.

She  said  that the decision was notified to President Ricardo Martinelli.

Mulino last weekend confirmed of the reinstatement order for Perez, with the rank of Lieutenant in  the armed forces, which have been disbanded.At that time, Mulino  declined to give details about his decision, but said it was  upheld in "an order of the Court."

However, the Court's only ruling related to  Perez was issued in September 2010 by the Criminal Division and refers to the charges against him for his alleged involvement with a plan to kidnap civilians during the invasion in 1989.

Perez, who was a member of the Defence Forces, was dismissed over those events  and in 1990, the Criminal Chamber provisionally dismissed the case in 2010.

However, that ruling did not refer in any part to refund to the police or the payment of wages.