Judge accused of corruption (Bocas Land Deal Gone Bad)

A criminal complaint against the the First Circuit Criminal Court judge Rolando Quezada, was filed with the Public Ministry by lawyer Miguel Batista, representing the companies Natural Corporation Inc., a shareholder of Sunset Point Inc., and Alto Volcan. According to Batista, Judge Quezada allegedly committed offenses against public administration and corruption of public servants. "He executed orders of definitive dismissal favoring those who had executed the crimes of aggravated fraud and misrepresentation, even though the crimes were fully accredited in the record," said the lawyer. Panama America tried to obtain a comment from Judge Quezada, but we were told at the Gil Ponce Palace of Justice that he would not be making a statement on the case. Sunset signed a loan agreement secured by a first mortgage and a "fictitious" antichresis with a company, but they "failed" to take over lands located in Bocas del Toro, sustained Batista in the lawsuit. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: A warning to anyone who intends to invest large amounts of money to develop anything in Panama. The justice system here is highly corrupt. Practically any legal judgement can be purchased by the highest bidder. This is true and a simple fact of life, starting down at the lowest levels of the justice system such as the local "Justice of the Peace", all the way up to and including the Supreme Court. Once you have invested millions upon millions of dollars to develop just about anything you can expect some unscrupulous Panamanian (or even more likely another foreigner) will come along with a team of lawyers and a bag of cash to try to take it away from you. Does that sound bad and dreary? Sorry, but it's true. Panama will never be able to grow to the next level until they really and truly clean out corruption within the justice system and pull it out - kicking and screaming - by the roots. This is nothing new, corruption arrived in Panama with the Spanish back in the 1500's. Don't think you're "safe" from anything just because you have a signed contract. Did you understand the details of what's happening in the case in this article? Neither did I. Lawyers generally suck at talking to the press - they need to use smaller words and simplify complex concepts - so that the person taking the notes in a hurry can understand what they're fighting about. I know somebody screwed someone else over a land deal in Bocas, supposedly helped by a corrupt judge, but there are obviously details left hanging out in the breeze...