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A group of criminals assaulted the private yacht named "Mr. Bull" owned by former Panamanian president Ernesto Perez Balladares, where it was tied up to a private dock in Puerto Pedregal in the province of Chiriqui. Reportedly, it was not until last night until the security guard who works at the dock noticed one of the yacht's windows was broken. Apparently the criminals used a small boat to approach the side of the private yacht and broke one of the windows to gain access, and they took several articles from the inside of the yacht. (Source - Panama America)

Defense lawyers representing former Education Minister Salvador Rodriguez submitted an appeal against a recent ruling handed down by the Eleventh Circuit Court in an attempt to show their client's innocence. The Eleventh Court ruling denied a request made by Rodriguez's defense lawyers, asking for a judicial inspection of several schools in the province of Colon, where supposedly there were irregularities in the performance of companies contracted to remove fiberglass insulation from public schools. Victor Almengor, Rodriguez's lawyer, told RPC Radio this inspection is necessary to demonstrate that the Comptroller's report is full of mistakes, which is affecting his client's innocence. The appeal will be presented at the Second Superior Tribunal of Justice.

Update: The action starts about about 7:00 pm Looking for something to do tonight? "
The President of Panama's National Assembly, Jose Luis Varela, said he would be willing to debate the idea of allowing for life imprisonment, but the idea of implementing the death penalty in Panama is not a viable solution to crime in the country. Varela thinks prison sentences are long, but what is needed is "more street work" to combat crime. However, he said the work being done by the police is better and more effective than in the past administration. Varela said this is because the government of President Ricardo Martinelli has motivated law enforcement agents with better working conditions. "I understand the frustration of the president in facing the violent events experienced by the country," he added. Despite everything he said he could not support the death penalty, stating it is contrary to Christian principles and that of being a human being. He argued that capital punishment is prohibited by the Constitution. "Increasing prison sentences might be good, but it must be mixed at the street level with very harsh measures against criminals. We have to give more money to the DIJ and police," he added. Varela said in the past the Panameñistas voted against including the DIJ in the structure of the police, but added that any changes to the existing structure should be proposed by experts in the field of security. He felt that more resources should be assigned to the DIJ, the DIIP, and the National Police so they can better perform their work against crime. He said next week the National Assembly will debate the proposal for a new law that would regulate the "criminal record" which would allow employers who are thinking about hiring someone to find out if the applicant has committed any crime. (Source - La Critica)
The employees of the Colon Container Terminal (CCT) plan to walk off the job and go on a general strike on Monday, 15 March 2010, at 12:00 noon, for alleged violations of their rights as dockworkers. Ricardo Brenes, the General Secretary CCT Workers Union, listed a number of irregularities such as the failure to pay benefits, anomalies in work schedules, and the handling of toxic materials without adequate security measures in place to guarantee the health and safety of the port workers. He said they have been negotiating for two weeks with company executives and representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development, because the workers are also owed the payment of Christmas bonuses and pay for good performance in their work areas. Yesterday, CCT worker's representatives met with the Deputy Minister of Labor, Luis Ernesto Carles, who who said he hoped that in the talks they would be able to reach an agreement with both sides so that this important port would not be paralyzed by a strike. In discussing the situation, Raul Villalobos, the Assistant Personnel Manager of the CCT declined to make a statement because it is Evergreen's position to not make statements, while they are trying to resolve the conflict between the port's workers and company managers at the negotiation table. Meanwhile, the Labor Union maintains the call to strike for Monday even though they will continue to negotiate in an attempt to achieve most of their demands, especially with regards to higher salaries. IMPORTANCE - If work at the port is stopped, then the ships arriving cannot be unloaded. (Source - El Siglo)
The clash between the Minister of Interior and Justice, Jose Raul Mulino and the Sole Union of Construction Workers and Similar (SUNTRACS), is expanding. Today there were additional reactions from both sides, and it appears that neither side will budge. The incident occurred yesterday when Minister Mulino reiterated to protesting SUNTRACS members he will not allow them to close streets. His warning came a day after clashing with them. Mulino said he recognized the right of people to protest, but reminds them the right to protest ends when they damage the rights of others to use the streets. The reaction from SUNTRACS was swift, from both workers and union leaders, who say they will continue to protest, but the police warned they would act. In recent weeks the SUNTRACS has closed some streets with protests against government measures such as the tax reforms. (Source - TVN Noticias)
With 40 votes in favor and 15 against, the full session of the National Assembly approved a tax reform package in the third and final vote. As expected, Law No. 119 which amends the tax code, adopts fiscal measures and creates an administrative tax tribunal. During the debate the Deputies to the National Assembly expressed their positions on the bill. Elías Castillo of the PRD political party said he was surprised by the speed at which the project came to the third and final debate. Castillo added this tax reform will increase the cost of living for Panamanians. He also said he was surprised by the content, quality, performance and purpose of the bill. Law Number 119 was approved under much criticism, especially over the 2% increase in the ITBMS sales tax. The main objective of the law is to raise $200 million dollars to pay for social programs the government of Ricardo Martinelli wants to implement. (Source - Telemetro Reporta)
The Department of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) dismantled a network of credit card cloners operating in Bethania. DIJ Director Javier Carrillo said one of the members of this network managed to leave Panama prior to the raid, but the remainder are still in the country. The network is composed of Venezuelans who were using two machines to illegally copy credit card numbers from a card reader belonging to a local bank. They had two apartments rented in El Cangrejo. During the raid authorities seized 43 credit cards from local and foreign banks, 121 blank cards, and 342 sales slips with different name and account information from one local bank, as well as a check book and a USB memory stick containing information important to the investigation. (Source - Panama America)
The Ninth Criminal Court asked the Tax Office of the Ministry of Finance to conduct an appraisal of farm number 50728, used as collateral for the payment of a bail bond to secure the release of former Education Ministers Belgis Castro and Salvador Rodriguez as well as former Municipal Engineer Jaime Chambers, and ten other people. Judicial sources reported the request from judge Edgar López - sent on 2 March 2010 through a letter addressed to the Director of the Tax office Publio Cortés - is designed to access information to decide if those released on bail should remain free or not. The same day he received the letter, Cortes responded to Lopez saying his office ordered an evaluation on 26 February 2010 which will be conducted on 24 March 2010. These actions are the product of an investigation opened by Attorney General Giuseppe Bonissi into farm number 50728 after it was learned the property had been used to secure the release on bail of the three former PRD politicians for a combined value of $800,000 dollars. The farm is owned by Rodrigo Muñoz Sánchez, who bought it on 12 November 2009 with a tax value of $18 dollars. This property, located in the village of El Potrero in the district of La Pintada, Cocle Province, is only one hectare and on 24 November 2009 the tax value of this property was changed to $3 million dollars. In his note, Cortes informed Lopez they will also perform an appraisal of farm 50740, inscribed by Muñoz Sanchez to the Public Registry on 30 November 2009, which also measures just one hectare and that also has a registered tax value of $3 million dollars. Both properties are at the same location and were segregated from the primary property identified as farm number 20202, according to research by the Directorate of Land Registry. Cortes reported they have not been able to physically locate Muñoz Sánchez, so therefore he will be notified of this judicial proceed through a publicly published edict. The director of Land Registry said that on this case the have only received the judge's request. The other eleven bail bonds being investigated whose revocations were requested by the Public Ministry to the various courts and judges involved remain pending to be resolved. (Source - La Prensa)


Mets GM Omar Minaya suggested Thursday that 20-year-old Ruben Tejada could open the 2010 season as the Mets' starting shortstop. The Panama native hit .289 with five homers and 46 RBI in 488 at-bats with Double-A Binghamton last season and told the New York Daily News that he won't be overwhelmed by the bright lights of the big leagues. "It's baseball," Tejada said. "Everywhere I play the game normal. I'm ready for everything." Alex Cora is another option to fill in for injured starter Jose Reyes, but Mets manager Jerry Manuel seems keen on giving the rookie a shot. Source: New York Daily News

