Former Vice President Gaby Carrizo’s Apartment Seized in the Investigations for Alleged Enrichment was Released by the Courts.

An Appeals Court expressed its disagreement with the decision to seize the apartment where former Vice President José Gabriel “Gaby” Carrizo resides, in the PH Marea 1, Costa del Este.  The seizure of that apartment had already been declared illegal on September 4 by Judge Karolina Jaén. The Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed, and for that reason, a hearing was held this Wednesday, September 23.  After hearing from both sides, Magistrate Mauricio Marín announced that the court supported Judge Jaén’s decision and, therefore, the decision to release the property was upheld.

“It was reaffirmed that this property was acquired before José Gabriel “Gaby” Carrizo was a public servant.” stated Roberto Moreno, defense attorney.

Defense attorney Roberto Moreno explained at the hearing that the apartment was purchased with funds provided by Julieta Spiegel before Carrizo took office as vice president. Therefore, the purchase was made outside the period audited by the Comptroller General of the Republic . That forensic audit is the primary evidence in this case.  The transaction was made on May 24, 2019 – Carrizo was already vice president- elected – through the Carspi Foundation , whose president and legal representative is Carrizo; his wife is the vice president.  The property is registered in the name of Nano Properties, Corp., whose legal representative is Spiegel.

$1.44 Million.

Price agreed in the sale of the 29th floor of the PH Marea 1

$454 Thousand.

Value declared in the Public Registry.

680 Square Meters.

It is an extension of the apartment acquired by the Carrizo couple.

The Superintendency of Non-Financial Entities informed the prosecutor’s office that Carrizo is the beneficiary of 100% of the shares of Nano Properties Corp.

“Several payments to cancel the debt on the property were made in September when Carrizo was vice president: Patricia Herrera, senior prosecutor.” says Patricia Herrera, senior prosecutor.

Anti-corruption prosecutor Patricia Herrera countered that, although the apartment was purchased in May 2019, payments were made in September of that year, when Carrizo was already a public official.

1

The purchase of the apartment on the 29th floor of PH Marea 1 was made on May 24, 2019, through the Carspi Foundation, which is chaired by José Gabriel Carrizo.

2

Subsequently, the apartment was transferred to the company Nano Properties Corp., whose legal representative is Julieta Spiegel de Carrizo.

3

The Superintendency of Non-Official Subjects confirmed that the beneficiary of 100% of the shares of Nano Properties Corp. is José Gabriel Carrizo.

Carrizo, who is under house arrest, was escorted to the courtroom by police officers. His wife was waiting for him there.  The apartment in the PH Marea 1 building, measuring almost 650 square meters, was acquired shortly after Carrizo was elected vice president in 2019. Before that, the couple lived in a modest residence located in Villa Belén, via Chigoré, in the city of Penonomé.