Sitting Supreme Court Judge and former president lost U.S. visas for corrupt practices
At least six high profile figures of the Government of Panama including a sitting Supreme Court Judge, and a former president, have had their U.S. visas revoked since 2000.
The revelations, from Wikileaks published by Panama America, substantiate rumors that have swirled around the country for years.
Previous Wikileaks revelations of U.S ambassadorial revelations from Panama to the State Deparment have largely figured President Ricardo Marinelli, who says he doesn't believe Wikileaks.
The current revelations show that human trafficking, bribery, illegal sale of maritime certificates and other acts of corruption are the reasons why the State Department have canceled visas.
In, 2004, former U.S. Ambassador Linda Watt, sent a report which includes a brief explanation for the revocation of the visa of former President Ernesto Perez Balladares in 2000.
What was an open secret says Panama America was confirmed by Watt.
The diplomat said that Perez Balladares lost his visa for trafficking of undocumented persons into the United States.
Watt also revealed that Romulo Abad, former private secretary to Balladares also lost his visa to the United States.
"Among other things, Abad is a known alien smuggler," Watt said in a report to Washington that was leaked by Wikileaks.
The former ambassador noted that Abad is on a list of 'bad apples' that evoke images of the darkest years of the regime of Manuel Antonio Noriega. "