New bail and real estate scandal erupting

A new scandal over the alleged use of overvalued properties for the allocation of bonds is about to explode explode,  says La Prensa.

It includes revelations about stories circulated  against mayoral candidate Roberto Velasquez whose campaign against Bosco Vallarino was derailed by allegations that he had received millions of dollars from convicted fraud artist David Murcia Guzman. 

Also surfacing are details of court cases relating to the soon to be opened Trump Tower

The latest developments follow the suspension by the Public Ministry (MP) of the ability to use plots of land as bail bond, which came about because of research work by a La Prensa investigative team.

The  Ministry on Thursday received a complaint accusing  Alexandre Ventura Nogueira , a partner of convicted fraudster  David Murcia Guzman, had presented as security for a relase bond  of $1.4 million, 28 farms in Piedras Gordas, La Pintada, Cocle, which did not have sufficient value.

Ventura, a Brazilian,   was , according to Univision a former feal estate partner of Roger Kahfif developer of Panama' soon to be opened Trump Tower.
The complaint relates to a bail granted to Ventura Nogueira in 2009, after the Fifteenth Circuit Prosecutor ordered his detention in a process that began with a complaint filed by his employer from the Colon Free Zone Jammal Flah Lazar, who accused him of fraud after selling an apartment in, in Punta Pacifica, valued at $ 700 000.
The complaint states that each of the 28 farms was assigned a value of 100 thousand dollars, and have also been used as collateral for securities of others, for amounts ranging between $3000 and $75,000.
One farm has served as collateral for eight bRobertoonds Another 13 farms serve as support in at least two other bonds.
According to the complaint, the value of $100 000 was given to each of the 28 farms although they varied in size and topography.

Maria Cordova, a lawyer for Ventura  said they hired a surety company that handled the paperwork, and these were accepted by the court according to the appraisals of Land Registry.
If farms have a legal problem, she said, her client had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Ventura’s reputation as a real estate seller collapsed in 2007 after several of his clients who bought apartments in Trump Ocean Club and other projects alleged in lawsuits that that Ventura had defrauded them.

Khafif,  ended up suing him as well. Khafif also found himself in court as a result of his business dealings with Trump says Univision.. Several buyers who purchased commercial and residential units in Trump Tower Panama filed a civil lawsuit in a Florida federal court against Khafif, Trump and the organization for using deceptive sales practices.

Khafif’s lawyers in Florida claim  in court documents that the process should be adjudicated in Panama, as stipulated in the purchase agreements.

Ventura Nogueira has six  complaints against him for fraud, after selling the apartments that did not exist, to Venezuelan citizens. He is also appears in the trial of his partner David Murcia for illegal taking of funds and a complaint for crimes against the honor and making false statements to the detriment of the former candidate for mayor Roberto Velasquez.

Stories alleging that Velasquez has received campaign funds from Murica, led to him losing his substantial lead in the last mayoralty campaign, and Bosco Valarino became mayor.

In another case a farm nicknamed  " prisoners out", valued at $800, was used in  unrelated cases of former Education Ministers Belgis Castro and Salvador Rodriguez, and ex municipal engineer Jaime Salas.