New Law Would Allow Public Minstry to Sell Seized Property
By Gustavo A. Aparicio O. for the Panama AmericaThe Panamanian National Assembly has approved in second debate the new Law #315 regarding seized goods. When passed the Panamanian government will be able to sell or dispose of the millions of dollars of goods and property seized from people involved in drug trafficking, terrorism, financial crimes, or money laundering. According to the Secretary General of the Public Ministry Rigoberto González said there is more than $10 million dollars in cash that at the moment can not be used at all, not even to fight crime. There is other property such as cars, heavy equipment, houses, apartments and other things which are deteriorating because current law does not allow for their use or provide a means for them to be disposed of. He said that is approximately $4 million dollars worth of goods, materials, real estate, and cash that has been seized, but that the persons involved have not been identified and that under current law the cases can not move forward and also the state does not have any way of disposing of the property or use the materials to fight crime. The bill establishes that when authorities seize goods or materials, and when the maintenance or custody of those materials proves difficult or impossible for the Public Ministry, then the Public Ministry can process the materials in administrative processes, which will be done applying the rules relative to public contracting.
By Isidro Rodríguez for the 
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By Xenia De León for the 
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by DON WINNER for 
Judge Silverio Rodríguez Henríquez of Panama's Fourth Circuit Criminal Court cancelled bail for lawyer Carlos Antonio Jones Robinson and ordered his immediate arrest and transfer to a penitentiary center while his case is being heard for the crime of vehicular manslaughter in relation to the deaths of Toribio Díaz and Nicolasa Vásquez de Díaz. The judge ruled to grant a request presented last 25 April 2007 by lawyer Sidney Sitton, acting on behalf of Toribio Diaz Vásquez, asked for Jones to remain in custody while the case is being heard. The court had decided to grant bail to Carlos Jones and had specified a time period to establish a bail bond. This obligation was not completed and the court order was ignored, which is why the judge ordered Jones' detention. In a hearing held on 10 April 2007, the judge gave Jones ten days to establish a $50,000 bail bond in order to remain free while the case is being decided. According to information made available from the Fourth Circuit Court and the Fourteenth Circuit Prosecutor's office, the property given as a guarantee does not cover the $50,000 amount imposed for Mr. Jones to remain free. Judge Rodriguez said Jones had until 24 April 2007 to establish the bail bond, and that he failed to comply within the specified time period. Aurelio Martínez, Gil Ponce Palace of Justice, Ancon, Panama
By Osiris Jurado for 
By Juan Manuel Díaz C. for the 
By Osiris Jurado for 
By Elsa M. González and Leonardo Flores for 
Not really much new to tell. I know this situation is getting a lot of attention among the English speaking expat community. I was at the Supreme Court again this afternoon and was told that the file is now in front of the judge to be decided. In this case the Superior Court voted 2-1 to allow the frozen assets to remain frozen, and the Geelong Foundation is asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Superior Court's decision and to unfreeze the assets immediately. I informed the secretary that this case is getting a lot of attention among us gringos on two fronts - freedom of speech (or, protection from incessant *censored*ing depending on your point of view) and just how water-tight is your PIF. Let's see what they decide to do...
Brian Ross and Joseph Rhee Report for 
The 2006 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2005. Volume I covers drug and chemical control activities. Volume II covers money laundering and financial crimes.
According to the President of Panama's Supreme Court Graciela Dixon, "it is not true that Panamanian judges are lazy and they do not resolve cases. Statistics show that each judge in Panama decides an average of two cases per day, that is to say they dictate two sentences per day," she told members of the International Rotary Club. At a conference called the Project to Modernize the Judicial Branch, held on 27 February 2007 at the Union Club, Dixon added that the work of judges is not only to dictate sentences and that their work is much more complex. They must organize hearings, gather evidence, and investigate cases, sometimes out of the courtroom. "If in spite of being over-tasked, that our judges can dictate an average of two sentences per day or ten per week, in a year that level of production does not reflect what could scientifically be defined as lazy, but rather what we would call an unacceptable work load on our civil employees," she said. Judge Dixon said she was not trying to justify anything bur rather she was looking for solutions. She said that in a study they conducted showed that for every twelve cases that enter the system the judges resolve ten. She added that due to the way the judicial system is designed, the laws that are on the books, and the human and economic resources made available that the judicial branch would never, with this equation, be able to clear out the judicial backlog. (more...)
By Juan Manuel Díaz C. for the 
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By Flor Bocharel for 
I just caught Juan Carlos Tapia's comments on the issue of reforms to the Penal Code with regards to the proposed changes that would effect journalists. He said, in effect, that the constitution of Panama requires that the government protect the possessions, life, and honor of its citizens. And, in effect (apparently), if the new law is enacted as written anyone who is a "public figure" basically can't sue someone. And (apparently) almost anyone can be considered to be a "public figure." I didn't get a chance to get my hands on a copy of the proposed text of this law today because I got tied up in other stuff. It looks like I really, really need a copy of this thing so I can figure it out for myself, because right now I'm relatively confused. At this point, I feel equally strongly about both sides (so, you can understand my confusion...)
By José González Pinilla for 
By José Otero for 
By José Otero for 
This afternoon Panama's Supreme Court declared that the arrest and detention of Linda Joan Thomas Martín de Araúz, the Chief of the pharmaceutical production of the Social Security's (CSS) drug lab, was legal. According to an official press release, the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Linda Joan Tomas Martin, who has been under arrest and detention since 15 November 2006. She is being investigated for her role in the deaths of at least dozens, and possibly hundreds of people due to poisoning from CSS medicines that had been contaminated by diethylene glycol. Panama's Supreme Court, while ordering that her arrest and detention was legal, released her on the condition that she could not leave the country. She was also ordered to report physically to the competent authorities every 15 days, and she has to remain living near the competent court authority.
Panama, Feb 1 (
By José Otero for 
Victor Politis a 55-year-old citizen of the United States proprietor of the 
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