Panama Lawyer Alejandro Pérez States that ‘Roy Cortizo is the Architect of the Judicial Persecution Against Ricardo Martinelli’.

Lawyer Alejandro Pérez requested this week that the spotlight be placed on the big fish, following the arrest of Publio De Gracia, former director of the General Directorate of Revenue.  “There’s one character: Roy Cortizo. He manipulated the Security Council, interfered in all matters, did business, everything,” he said on the program “A Capa y Espada”.  Along these lines, Pérez recounted that he once encountered him in the offices of a major Panamanian businessman – “He wasn’t there because they were friends, he was there precisely because he was doing business with him from within the government,” he explained. 

Pérez blamed Roy for being the mastermind behind the persecution of former President Ricardo Martinelli pictured above during the previous administration.  “Roy Cortizo is the architect of the judicial persecution against Ricardo Martinelli during Nito Cortizo’s government, and nothing is happening to him, nothing is being done to him. Well, Nito is sick, but this one isn’t,” referring to Roy, he stated.  This week, Publio De Gracia pictured below, was ordered to be held in pretrial detention. He is charged with the alleged crimes of unjust enrichment and money laundering.  De Gracia joins other members of the Cortizo administration who have been arrested, such as Bernardo Meneses, Luis Oliva, and Noriel Araúz.