Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) Charged in $91M Bribe/Corruption Involving Panama Metro, the City of Health, and Other Public Infrastructure Projects

[Moderator_02]

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Spanish company indicted for $91 million  bribes to Martinelli frontman

Ricardo Martinelli

Posted 30/10/2019

Spain’s National Court has indicted Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, SA ( FCC), for the payment of $91 million in commissions to a Ricardo Martinelli frontman in order to be awarded public works contracts in Panama.

According to the newspaper El Mundo, on Wednesday, October 30 :  “Bribes paid in Switzerland would have been used to build two subway lines and the City of Health. Among the recipients of the commissions would be a frontman of former president of Panama Ricardo Martinelli ”, whom they identify as the lawyer Mauricio Cort.

Spanish judge Ismael Moreno attributes to FCC the crimes of corruption in international transactions and money laundering. 

The news has also been replicated by Reuters and AP  news agencies  reports La Prensa

According to the order issued on Wednesday, the head of the FCC legal advisory stated in her appearance before the prosecution last July that the documents attached to the complaint “had served as formal coverage for the outflow of funds from the company towards Mauricio Cort as a Martinelli treasurer, for the payment of commissions demanded by the latter to allow FCC to operate in Panama in the field of its public works business ”.

The investigation dates back to 2017, following a complaint against a legal advisor of the multinational Odebrecht for possible money laundering, bribery and criminal organization committed between 2009 and 2015.

The companies Odebrecht and FCC have been partners in several projects in Panama. For example, they bid together for  the contracts for the construction of two of the most ambitious and emblematic projects of the last two governments: Line 1 of the Metro, which cost the Martinelli government (2009-2014 $2.9 billion) , and line two of that transport system, which meant a disbursement by  the Juan Carlos Varela administration of (2014-2019) of $2.130 billion.

Judge Moreno directs the process against the mercantile FCC Construcción SA, FCC Construcción Centroamérica SA, and Construcciones Hospitalarias SA, at the request of the anti-corruption prosecution, El Mundo reported. The three companies  have five days to designate a representative, a lawyer and attorney

Mauricio Cort has been provisionally detained since June as part of the investigation for alleged cost overruns in the study, design, construction, and financing of the Via Brasil corridor, section II, a work that was awarded to FCC for $174.5 million, and which ended up costing $216.2 million.

Cort is also prosecuted for the Odebrecht bribery case but reached collaboration and penalty agreements with the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reports La Prensa.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/spanish-company-indicted-for-91-million-bribes-to-martinelli-frontman

[Moderator_02]

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Multi million bribery scam - or "political persecution"

A La Prensa cartoonis's take on the news that Ricardo Martinelli's front man was the distributor of FCC bribes

Posted 31/10/2019

The news spread  like wildfire. In Spain they had charged FCC for paying bribes in Panama. Respecting the presumption of innocence of all those who have had to do with the construction projects of this company in Panama, important questions remain that the current Panamanian government must answer.

 Will a fight against corruption be undertaken without barracking and without political flags? Or, will you turn your back on the awkward matter? In the coming weeks and months a lot of information will be known about how to do business in Panama, and how pharaonic public contracts were obtained that have us indebted to the top. We will show the world how another construction company could take advantage of us and, most absurdly, is that even if they condemn it, it cannot be excluded from contracting with the Panamanian State.

There, in Spain, We will see judicial judges work without calls or pay-offs, while the processes will proceed without foolish dilatory resources to interfere and be manipulated to public opinion with a powerful propaganda operation that proclaims to the four winds that it is political persecution. This is the worst nightmare of a great corrupt. LA PRENSA, Oct, 31

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/multi-million-bribery-scam-or-ampquotpolitical-persecutionampquot-1

[Keith Woolford]

It's pretty sad when other nations have to handle justice for one which is so corrupt as to be incapable of dealing with the theft of the people’s funds by public officials.The actions, inactions, and verdicts of the Courts in Panama are brutally offensive.

Edited November 2, 2019 by Keith Woolford

[Moderator_02]

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Incoming Metro boss will collaborate in $91 million bribery probe

Posted 01/11/2019

The newly named director-general and president of the board of directors of Metro de Panamá, SA, Héctor Ortega says that the company “will collaborate with any information that is required nationally or internationally. In the latest  multi-million coma (bribery) investigations

“We will respect the investigations carried out by the competent authorities, “ he told La Prensa on Thursday, October 31.

He was referring to the case of the indictment in Spain of  FCC Construcción for the alleged payment of bribes for the granting of contracts for  the construction of Panama Metro and the City of Health.

According to the indictment of the National Court of Spain, three companies of the construction group - which is currently controlled by magnate Carlos Slim - paid 82 million euros ($91 million) to get public works contracts in Panama.

FCC was awarded in consortium with Brazil's Norberto Odebrecht the design and construction contracts of the first two lines of the Panama Metro for a total of $4.220 billion. The first was tendered during the administration of Ricardo Martinelli and the second in the government of Juan Carlos Varela.

The consortia were led by  Brazil’s Odebrecht, but FCC had a 45% stake.

The Brazilian company confessed in 2016 that it paid $788 million in bribes in 12 countries, including Panama, to get public works contracts.

In addition, the  Panama Public Ministry is investigating the Spanish construction company for the alleged commission of several crimes for works, such as the Vía Brasil corridor, also awarded in the Martinelli administration.

Ortega, who will replace  Roberto Roy as the maximum representative of the Panama Metro, in January 2020, told La Prensa  that the Public Procurement Law governs in Panama, defended the technical work of the evaluation commissions and announced that when he takes office It must ensure the transparency of the processes and the appointment of independent evaluation committees.

In the bill that reforms the Public Procurement Law, a new mechanism is established for the selection of the members of the evaluation commissions. According to the original proposal of the bill, the members will leave a database of professionals who will be in the General Directorate of Public Procurement.

The text, which will be discussed in the Assembly in extraordinary sessions, eliminates the tender model with a separate evaluation, used in the two Metro lines and that keeps the official price hidden in the tender.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/incoming-metro-boss-will-collaborate-in-91-million-bribery-probe

[Moderator_02]

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Ex-president got $6.5 million bribe for contracts  - indictment

Posted 02/11/2019

A bribe of at least $6. 5 million was  paid  to former president  Ricardo Martinelli by the Spanish construction company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) in exchange for contracts in Panama, say court documents   widely published in Spanish media  and  the front page  lead in La Prensa on  Saturday, November 2,  in spite of threats of legal action  by a  Martinelli spin merchant and lawyer

The Spanish publication  Vozpópuli attributes the information to statements given by FCC on June 6 to  Spanish the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.

According to FCC's statement before the prosecutor's office - cited by the judge of the National Court judge Ismael Moreno -, the bribe would have been carried out through a transaction made by the Panamanian-Spanish lawyer Mauricio Cort, appointed as the frontman of Martinelli.

According to Vozpópuli,  after the bribe was paid to Marinelli, FCC won multi-million-dollar contracts in Panama - some of them from the scandal-ridden Brazilian construction company  Odebrecht -, including lines 1 and 2 of the Panama Metro and the City of Health which was to have been anointed with Martinelli’s name.

Judge Moreno charged FCC on October 29 for the payment of bribes totaling $91 million at the current exchange), in order to be awarded public works contracts in Panama.

"According to the Spanish Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, FCC and  Odebrecht boosted steel prices in order to pay bribes to Panamanian leaders, including former President Martinelli," Vozpópuli cites in information released on October 30.

The Spanish medium adds that, when appearing before the prosecution on July 3, “the head of the legal advice of FCC provided more compromising data for the ex-president of the Central American country. Specifically, he explained that the documents that he attached to the complaint 'had served as a formal coverage for the company's outflow of funds to Mauricio Cort as a Martinelli frontman  for the payment of the bribes required by the latter to allow FCC to operate in Panama in the field of his public works ', as evidenced by Judge Moreno's October 29 order. ”

Denial and threat

This week, after the decision of the National Court of Spain to charge FCC for the alleged payment of bribes Martinelli, through his spokesman, Luis Eduardo Camacho Castro, denied all the accusations.

"Former President Martinelli is not subject to any criminal investigation in any country," Camacho said in a press release, and warned that they will act legally against those who try to link him in any illegal act.

When contacted by La Prensa, Camacho reiterated that Martinelli has nothing to do with the accusations, and warned, once again, that they will sue anyone who disseminates information that does not conform to the truth.

“Once again, false accusations are made. No FCC employee has sustained that Martinelli received only one real for contracts in Panama. ”

Processes
Judge Moreno attributes to FCC Construcción SA, FCC Construcción Centroamérica SA, and Construcciones Hospitalarias SA - subsidiaries of FCC - the crimes of corruption in international transactions and money laundering.

In Panama, the Office of the Attorney General (PGN) reported that charges have been made to 14 people for alleged money laundering crimes and filed as part of an investigation for alleged anomalies in the contract for the construction of via Brazil, section II, awarded to FCC.

The information was provided by the PGN, in a statement that states that the investigation is carried out in coordination with the Spanish anti-corruption prosecutors. The names of the 14 accused persons were not disclosed, although it is known that lawyer Mauricio Cort is provisionally detained.

An audit of Panama’s Comptroller General of the Republic concluded that in one of the contracts awarded to FCC in Panama there was a surcharge of $ 1.7 million, “ to which sum to which it is necessary to add the money from the payment of the coima (bribe) ”, according to the PGN

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/world/ex-president-got-65-million-bribe-for-contracts-indictment

[Moderator_02]

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Martinelli frontman  named in $91 million Panama bribery case

Posted 16/11/2019

Three subsidiaries of t  Spanish construction company FCC will appear before the National Court of Spain on Friday, November  22 charged with the payment of 82 million euros ($91 million at current exchange rates) in bribes to obtain contracts for the construction of Panama Metro lines and the City of  Health .

Judge Ismael Moreno accuses the subsidiaries of FCC Construcción, FCC Construcción Central America and Construcciones Hospitalarias) of corruption crimes in international transactions and money laundering.

Afonso Iglesia González will appear before the Court as a “specially appointed representative” of the company

The anti-corruption agency in Spain has several supposed indications that suggest that senior FCC executives and Odebrecht company staff designed a scheme to divert funds, which was based on inflating the price of the steel supply needed to build the Panama metro and to invoice it at double its price.

According to Judge Moreno's thesis, funds were obtained to allegedly pay bribes to employees and political leaders of Panama. Among the recipients of the bribes was the lawyer Mauricio Cort, an alleged frontman of former President  Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014).

In a statement published the day the investigations came to light, FCC explained that they were aware of an alleged act of corruption in Panama in 2010 and that since 2015 (when Carlos Slim took control of the company), the shareholders of control, advisors and managers  have collaborated with the authorities with the intent of thoroughly reviewing the events that completely violate their principles of ethics and compliance.

“Throughout the FCC Group, a total commitment to the principle of zero tolerance for corruption is established. The notification received has been produced within the framework of the investigation which, from the first day in which the notification was received,  has relied on our collaboration ”, says an FCC statement.

Local  charges
In Panama 14 people have been investigated for alleged embezzlement, corruption and money laundering.

The investigations cover about five projects, among them, road rearrangement in Vía Brazil, the widening of Ave. Domingo Diaz Avenue and the renovation of the Historical Heritage, in Casco Viejo.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/martinelli-frontman-named-in-91-million-panama-bribery-case

[Moderator_02]

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Spanish court probes $91 million bribes for Panama contracts

Posted 23/11/2019

A representative of FCC the Spanish construction conglomerate before the National Court of Spain on Friday to talk about its illegal acts in Panama. in which tens of millions of dollars would have been paid in bribes to members of the Martinelli and Varela administrations related to building the metro and Hospital City.

At the moment, the depositions of the FCC executive are kept under summary secrecy, since the investigation in Spain is still ongoing, by the anti-corruption prosecutor Teresa Gálvez, who is also investigating the Odebrecht case.

The prosecutor is the same one who has interrogated and investigated Odebrecht's financial operator Rodrigo Tacla Durán, who has involved former president Juan Carlos Varela in Odebrecht's corrupt plot.

Timothy Scorah, the legal representative of the Panamanian company Aeon Group, used by Odebrecht to pay bribes to former Panama officials, could not appear on Friday.

Alfonso Iglesia , legal representative appointed by FCC, answered for about an hour the questions of the judge Ismael Moreno , head of the case that accuses the Spanish construction company of paying more than 82 million euros ( $91 million, in coimas (bribes) to obtain the adjudication of the construction of lines of the Metro and the City of Health, among other works in Central America and Panama.

During the interrogations, the anti-corruption prosecutor, Teresa Gálvez, was present.

Gálvez directed the investigations around the figure of the former financial operator of Odebrecht, Rodrigo Tacla Durán, who in an interrogation in February 2017 unveiled the modus operandi for distribution of coimas through Latin America by the Brazilian company.

Judge Moreno charged the three subsidiary companies of FCC as legal persons, for international corruption in Panama.

Aeon Group was one of the screen companies, re-transferable to front men, created by the Private Bank of Andorra (BPA) so that Odebrecht could execute without leaving a trace of its scheme of payments of bribes to a long list of frontline politicians who favored the construction company with contracts in several Latin American countries.

Judge Moreno explained that several senior executives (currently dismissed) of the FCC mercantile companies participated in the corruption scheme, who maneuvered the denounced contracts and covered up the payment of the bribes with alleged commercial consulting work and other tricks between 2010 and 2014. The corrupt strategy, according to the information provided by Swiss authorities, also consisted of oversizing the supply of steel needed to build the Panama Metro and billing it at double its price.

“Funds that were destined to the alleged payments of corruption through a sequence of instrumental societies and bank account circuit to end up paying those illicit gains in covert corruption payments as commercial commissions and to third-party policymakers and public employees,” said the magistrate.

Among the recipients of the commissions would be a frontman of former Panama president Ricardo Martinelli.

The magistrate places special emphasis on the criminal responsibility of the company. "There was no definition of a business ethic nor were there any prevention instruments aimed at establishing a culture of respect for current legislation," Moreno explained. "The indications reveal a radical violation of legality and behaviors that seriously attacked free and straight competition in international contracting," he said.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/spanish-court-probes-91-million-bribes-for-panama-contracts

[Moderator_02]

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Panama gave Spain link to Martinelli frontman channeling $91 million

Mauricio Cort

Posted 26/11/2019

Information provided by the Panamanian Prosecutor's Office about a company headed by   lawyer Mauricio Cort – identified  as the  frontman  for former president Ricardo Martinelli - led the current Directorate of Spanish construction giant  FCC  to initiate an internal investigation that allowed the discovery of the payment of commissions for $91 million, between 2010 and 2014, in exchange for public works awards in the isthmus.

This was stated by the FCC legal representative during his appearance before Ismael Moreno, judge of the National Court, as reported by El Español .

Alfonso Iglesia, legal representative appointed by the three subsidiary companies of FCC charged as legal persons for international corruption in Panama, appeared at the offices of the National Court of Spain, in Madrid.

The case accuses the Spanish construction company of  the payment of more than 82 million euros in coimas (kickbacks) to obtain contracts  for  construction of metro lines and the City of Health.

According to El Español , FCC explained to Moreno that the internal investigation that led to the discovery of an alleged international bribery of greater scope than the one known until then by the National Court had nothing to do with the proceedings initiated in 2017, but had its origin in a meeting held in Panama with the prosecutor of that country, int April.

In that interview, Panamanian prosecutors asked the FCC envoy about what he knew of a company linked to Cort who, they suspected, was able to channel multi-million dollar bribes.

 The compliance committee of the Spanish construction company approved the initiation of inquiries that resulted in the presentation of two complaints in the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office on May 31 and June 6.

The newspaper report shows that FCC delivered 38 invoices and transfers made between the end of 2010 and 2014 - prior, therefore, to the current managers of the construction company - r fictitious technical consulting services

At the time of being questioned, the legal representative of the construction company explained that she could not provide the information given that the company did not know about these transfers until the Panamanian prosecutor put her on the trail of a certain company of Mauricio Cort.

Int October, the National Court charged subsidiary companies of the FCC for the alleged commission of corruption offenses in international transactions involving projects developed in Panama.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-gave-spain-link-to-martinelli-frontman-channeling-91-million

[Moderator_02]

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Construction boss reaches collaboration deal in Panama bribery probe

Posted 05/12/2019

A former director of the Spanish construction company FCC, which is accused of distributing millions of dollars in bribes in  Panama to gain government contracts has reached a collaboration deal with the Attorney General's Office of Panama, as part of investigations against the company for alleged money laundering.

The agreement  hearing was held at the  Panamanian embassy in Spain, through a video link  giving the staff of the Panama Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office access to the testimony of the former director whose identity has not been revealed

The testimony of explains how the Panama contracts were  handled.

Panama investigates the alleged commission of crimes against public administration and money laundering, related to: Vía Brasil Section I and II, widening of Avenida Domingo Díaz, Renovation of Casco Viejo and constructing Cinta Costera III. An audit p by the Comptroller General  concluded that there was a surcharge of $41,761,011, , which is in  addition of the money for  the payment of the coima  (kickback) which would exceed $100 million

On November 22, another proceeding took place at the National Court of Spain, against FCC, for alleged corruption in international transactions and money laundering, for payment of $91 million in bribes for public contracts in Panama.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/construction-boss-reaches-collaboration-deal-in-panama-bribery-probe

[Moderator_02]

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Another year to probe FCC money laundering allegations

Posted 11/12/2019

The investigation of alleged money laundering embezzlement and corruption, through the  payment of bribes by the Spanish company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC ) has been declared complex by the 11^th Criminal Court and will continue for another 12 months

The decision was adopted by the substitute judge Minerva Aminta Flores, on December 6, in response to a request by prosecutor Ruth Morcillo.

The work on Via Brazil was awarded in the government of Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) for $174.5 million, but it ended up costing $ 216.2 million.

The lawyer Mauricio Cort, a Martinelli frontman at the time is detained preventively.

The National Court of Spain, which is carrying out an investigation against FCC also for money laundering, has indicated Cort as a frontman who managed accounts and corporations for the payment of premiums in infrastructure works.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/another-year-to-probe-fcc-money-laundering-allegations

[JohnF13]

Why bother?  Considering Panamanian courts recent rulings, no one of any importance will ever be found guilty of anything.  

 

[Keith Woolford]

8 hours ago, JohnF13 said:

Why bother?  Considering Panamanian courts recent rulings, no one of any importance will ever be found guilty of anything.  

We have all seen money buy innocence, even in Canada. (Dennis Oland recently), while innocent people without means have spent years behind bars. (too many to mention), but here in Panama it seems that the outcomes of criminal cases are known before charges are even laid.

Currently two of the three branches of government here are known to be corrupt, the Courts and the National Assembly. We don’t know yet about the third, the Cortizo administration.

Edited December 13, 2019 by Keith Woolford

[Moderator_02]

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International media report Martinelli to alleged FCC bribery probe

Ricardo Martinelli

Posted 02/01/2020

The name of former Panama president Ricardo Martinelli has again surfaced in international media  carrying reports  of the scores of millions of dollars alleged paid in  bribes by the Spanish FCC in Panama and other Central American countries

The company was awarded the construction of the Vía Brasil road rearrangement project and participated together with Odebrecht as part of the consortium that built Lines 1 and 2 of the Panama Metro.

As reported by the Spanish El Confidencial , the works in Vía Brasil, join the group of works allegedly rigged by FCC in Panama, by paying commissions that would add up to $82.7 million

The bribes would have been executed through a complicated network of companies that would have ramifications in Uruguay, Andorra, and Switzerland, and the funds would have ended up in the office of local lawyer Mauricio Cort, alleged to gave been the frontman for Martinelli during his presidency 2009-2014..

The report of the international media also indicates that the investigations have advanced in other works that are suspected of irregular operations such as lines 1 and 2 of the Panama Metro and the Hospital City, which to date remains paralyzed reports TVN News.

The Spanish  newspaper  publication says  “the company has been forced to admit that it achieved those

orders by buying Martinelli, not only with the payment of commissions, but also gave him a 50% stake in the Altos del Javier society SA , a company constituted by the construction company in 2011.

FCC would have created Altos del Javier SA, to buy the farm where the old facilities of the Javier College were, whose buildable area is 30,000  square meters. The campus moved to Clayton in 2010. The following year, the Society of Jesus sold o FCC the land it had occupied for half a century inPerejil, for $17.1 million.

" Neither the neighbors of the area, who have complained repeatedly about the abandonment of the facilities after the Jesuits left, never knew that FCC had bought the land, and less, that Martinelli

had taken half of the land " , says the report.

Meanwhile, to pay the bribes of lines 1 and 2 of the Panama Metro, FCC used shadow companies and contacts provided by Odebrecht.

In the case of the Hospital City, FCC designed its own system to get the money to former president Martinelli, through transactions in bank accounts in Switzerland and Andorra.

The authorities in Spain keep track of other FCC project transactions that were made in Panama and other countries in the region.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/international-media-report-martinelli-to-alleged-fcc-bribery-probe-1

[Moderator_02]

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Justice skewered under virus umbrella

Posted 02/05/2020

One of the most recent attacks on the justice system was made by the Second Superior Court, which suddenly ended the investigation of bribes paid by the Spanish company FCC. What could be thought of as the complicit end of this scandal, now faces, amid the pandemic, an accurate protection of constitutional guarantees from the Public Ministry. The prosecutor in the case highlights the scope of this investigation and why it must continue until its purpose is fulfilled. There are sectors that seek to silence all inquiries and complaints about the corruption of past governments. Those interests continue to pressure the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation and the Supreme Court of Justice to derail these cases. Panamanians cannot allow the virus of impunity to continue infecting the political system. Many of the limitations that the country is experiencing in economic and health matters are due to the great corruption that hit us. The dance of billions that vanished, we now need more than ever. - LA PRENSA, May 2

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/justice-skewered-under-virus-umbrella

[Brundageba]

yup...more scum surfacing.   This time it's a disgusting morass of impunity.  Greed. 

[Moderator_02]

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Un amparo para salvar el caso FCC

Rodrigo Noriega

05 may 2020 - 11:22 PM

Ruth Morcillo. Archivo

 

La justicia panameña enfrenta tiempos excepcionales. Los magistrados y jueces del Órgano Judicial deberán definir la suerte de numerosos casos de alto perfil. Uno de los que se tambalea en la cuerda floja judicial es el caso conocido como FCC Vía Brasil, tramo II, en el que se investiga al exministro de Obras Públicas Federico Suárez y al abogado Mauricio Cort.

Usualmente, la defensa técnica de los acusados es la que recurre por vía de un amparo de garantías constitucionales la decisión de un tribunal; sin embargo, en este caso fue la fiscal superior anticorrupción, Ruth Morcillo, quien accionó ante la Corte Suprema de Justicia para defender los intereses de los panameños.

La investigación de este caso se inició el 19 de mayo de 2017 y el 13 de noviembre de ese mismo año el Juzgado Undécimo del Circuito Penal de Panamá le concedió una primera prórroga . El 23 de agosto de 2019, el Ministerio Público pidió que se le declarara causa compleja.

Paralelamente, ante el Juzgado Decimoquinto de lo Penal, presidido por el juez Leslie Loaiza, se desarrolla otro caso vinculado a FCC y que también tiene por investigado al exministro Suárez. Su equipo de defensa invocó una figura jurídica especialísima: la acumulación, que sucede cuando dos o más casos que tienen las mismas partes, o alguna vinculación estrecha, se ventilan ante distintos tribunales y se solicita, por economía procesal, que solo uno acumule todas las causas. La defensa de Suárez alegó que el caso FCC- Avenida Domingo Díaz, que lleva adelante el juez Loaiza, debía acumularse con el caso de Vía Brasil. El juez Loaiza rechazó la solicitud el 30 de diciembre de 2019.

El Segundo Tribunal declaró nulo lo actuado, porque se hicieron tramitaciones durante el término en que el juez Loaiza estudiaba los expedientes. Entre los actos anulados están dos acuerdos de pena con actores claves en la trama FCC, y el flujo de información obtenida de España.

Los argumentos presentados por la fiscal Morcillo contra la decisión del Segundo Tribunal se anclan en el criterio de que las normas de acumulación del proceso civil no son exactamente aplicables al proceso penal. Morcillo presentó una justificación novedosa para la justicia panameña: si se mantiene la nulidad de lo actuado, se viola el debido proceso y, por lo tanto, los derechos humanos de los panameños. La decisión de la Corte tendrá que enfocarse en la distinción de los efectos y alcances de la acumulación en el derecho civil y en el penal, y la consideración de que una maniobra procesal no puede negarle el derecho a la justicia a todo un país.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

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An injunction to save the FCC case

Rodrigo Noriega
May 05, 2020 - 11:22 PM

<<fcc agreement.jpg>>
Ruth Morcillo. Archive

Panamanian justice faces exceptional times. The magistrates and judges of the Judicial Branch must define the fate of numerous high-profile cases. One of which is wobbling on the judicial tightrope is the case known as FCC Vía Brasil, section II, in which the former Minister of Public Works Federico Suárez and the lawyer Mauricio Cort are investigated.

Usually, the technical defense of the accused is the one that appeals by way of an amparo of constitutional guarantees the decision of a court; however, in this case it was the highest anti-corruption prosecutor, Ruth Morcillo, who acted before the Supreme Court of Justice to defend the interests of Panamanians.

The investigation of this case began on May 19, 2017, and on November 13 of that same year, the Eleventh Court of the Criminal Circuit of Panama granted him a first extension. On August 23, 2019, the Public Ministry asked that a complex cause be declared.

At the same time, before the Fifteenth Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Leslie Loaiza, another case is developed related to the FCC and which also has ex-minister Suárez under investigation. His defense team invoked a very special legal figure: accumulation, which occurs when two or more cases that have the same parties, or some close relationship, are heard before different courts and it is requested, due to procedural economy, that only one accumulate all Causes. Suárez's defense argued that the FCC-Avenida Domingo Díaz case, which is being carried out by Judge Loaiza, should be combined with the Vía Brasil case. Judge Loaiza rejected the request on December 30, 2019.

The Second Court declared the proceedings null and void, because proceedings were made during the term in which Judge Loaiza studied the files. Among the annulled acts are two sentence agreements with key actors in the FCC plot, and the flow of information obtained from Spain.

The arguments presented by the prosecutor Morcillo against the decision of the Second Court are anchored in the criterion that the accumulation norms of the civil process are not exactly applicable to the criminal process. Morcillo presented a novel justification for Panamanian justice: if the nullity of what was done is maintained, due process is violated and, therefore, the human rights of Panamanians. The Court's decision will have to focus on distinguishing the effects and scope of accumulation in civil and criminal law, and the consideration that a procedural maneuver cannot deny the right to justice to an entire country.

 

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/un-amparo-para-salvar-el-caso-fcc-2/

[Moderator_02]

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Martinelli praises "drug lord fixer"

Posted 05/08/2020

On June 16, ex-president Ricardo Martinelli rushed to proclaim on social networks a judicial victory against the Spanish newspaper  El Mundo.

A Madrid court ordered the newspaper to rectify a news item published in October 2019, referring to the case against executives of the construction company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) for bribery payments in Panama.

According to the court, the former Panamanian president is not investigated for this process, and therefore he demanded that the newspaper publish a retraction.

"I congratulate the prominent Colombian lawyer, Dr. Diego Cadena, for the excellent work accomplished in Spain, so that the media in that country publish the right of reply,”Martinelli wrote on Twitter along with a photo with Cadena.

The photo even caught the attention of Colombian media.

Citytv titled: "[ex-Colombia president] Uribe's investigated lawyer now works for another former president."  Uribe and his lawyer are  under house arrest, accused of  bribing witnesses.

What Martinelli did not say is that the "prominent" lawyer is the protagonist of a sordid judicial scandal in Colombia, which links him to the alleged bribery of witnesses and procedural fraud. On Tuesday, July 28, he was charged with the alleged commission of these crimes.

Drug lord fixer
Eight days ago, the renowned Colombian journalist Daniel Coronell, president of Univisión news, on the Los Danieles website, He made an X-ray of the plot by which Martinelli's lawyer is being investigated. Entitled "The Collapse," Coronell describes the lawyer as "a fixer of drug lords to avoid going to trial, a prison visitor to draw letters from his distinguished guests, and a bandit gatherer to favor his clients."

Cadena, according to Coronell and a Colombian prosecutor's office, paid large sums of money to a former paramilitary prisoner to testify against Senator Iván Cepeda, and allegedly benefit one of his clients: former President Alvaro Uribe, who also has a post in the parliament of Colombia.

Last Friday, a new chapter in this plot was finalized. The Colombian Attorney General's Office asked that the lawyer be placed under house arrest.

It is not known how Martinelli got to Cadena, reports La Prensa, but when he underwent the extradition process in Miami, he former president hired David Markus and Ricardo Bascuas, lawyers who also defended Andrés Felipe Arias, a trusted man and former Minister of Agriculture Uribe, who in those days was facing an extradition case to Colombia.

At that time, Uribe also wrote a letter to the American judge Edwin Torres, who was leading the process against Martinelli. "He was a constant ally in our country's fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, threats that affect the United States," he said.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-praises-quotdrug-lord-fixerquot-1

[Moderator_02]

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Witnesses describe multi-million bribes for flagship project

Posted 19/08/2020

Former executives of the  Spanish  FCC company have pulled back the curtains on the multi-million dollar kickbacks in the construction of the Hospital City a flagship project of former president Ricardo Martinelli which his sycophants had planned to name after him.

It might have proved an apt title as the former FCC bosses have revealed to prosecutors in Spain that the work was awarded in their favor because they had to agree to the payment of a bribe of 9% of the gross cost of the work, which included the financing of its $587.5 million construction. This involved the distribution of almost $53 million.

As the banks were reluctant to offer such high loans to carry out the work, "intermediaries" would have negotiated, according to the Spanish informers, a reduction in the financing period, which made it possible to continue with the work.

Eusebio del Barrio former FCC regional director–  also revealed that Riccardo Francolini appeared as the intermediary in the collection of bribes, “which consisted of paying 9% of the award amount and an additional commission that arose after $12 million for the approval of the change in the payment conditions of the project ”.

The new “commission” would have raised the amount of the bribe to more than $65 million. Del Barrio explained that, on his departure from FCC, in mid-August 2013, $15 million had already been paid.

Under the carpet
The case, which has been heard in the Panamanian courts, virtually came to an end in October 2019, when the Second Superior Court confirmed a decision of the Eighth Criminal Court that definitively dismissed the defendants, accused of embezzlement in the project, known today as the City of Health reports La Prensa.

The Public Ministry presented the only recourse that remained to avoid the definitive closure of the case: that of cassation before the Supreme Court, which has not yet been resolved.

An  August 2012 meeting, in the office of  Martinelli, in the Presidential Palaces, in which the then CEO of FCC, Avelino Acero, and the regional director of the company, Eugenio del Barrio, participated, ended in another meeting outside the ruler's office. Martinelli had introduced them to the new “intermediary,”  Francolini– who would replace the Minister of Public Works, Federico José Suárez, in the delicate matter of the “commissions” that the company had to pay for state works awarded in his favor.

Del Barrio, who reviewed the brief meeting with Martinelli in the Presidency in a statement to prosecutors in Spain, described Francolini as a subject who "became a sort of frontman for the President." But Francolini proved to be more than that. He was diligent, because, when he left the President's office, he immediately took an interest "in detail" in all the projects that Suárez managed, recalled del Barrio.

By then, FCC had  other  contracts bringing the total to r almost $1,1 billion, and for which FCC had to pay important "commissions", following instructions from the Francolini. said del Barrio.

Del Barrio described, the role of Francolini in the Hospital City  project and, , that of Martínez Acha & Asociados in that same project, the most expensive that FCC handled individually, awarded in 2012 for $587.5 million, work that this year was eight years old, unfinished and rising in price.

According to del Barrio, the bid of the Hospital City) was legitimately won by FCC, thanks to a competitive offer,  he  warned - its award "was conditional on the acceptance of a 9% commission." It was the lawyer Mauricio Cort – said del Barrio - who reminded them of the payment of 9% commission.

Cort was a local attorney, hired by the FCC at the suggestion of Suárez. The lawyer collected and received bribes in bank accounts of an Uruguayan company called Arados del Plata, del Barrio said. Cort justified the money that entered these accounts as payment of fees for legal services to FCC,

In addition to being diligent, Francolini was hospitable. Apart from being the intermediary of the hospital business del Barrio said that there were meetings with Francolini at his home in Costa del Este. They were meetings between him and del Barrio, with the occasional company of Julio Casla - now the former director of FCC for Central America - who also agreed to sentence agreements with the Public Ministry.

Del Barrio was insistent that Francolini implied that the then director of the CSS, Guillermo Sáez Llorens “was involved in the change [of the term] of financing the contract and implied that those $4 million or part of that commission they were going for him, but I don't know if it really was for him, "he said.

Sáez Llorens told La Prensa that “it is totally false that I have asked or have been given a payment to change the financing of the work. Mr. Francolini ... never had anything to do with the CSS or with the Ciudad Hospitalaria project ”.

FCC's admission of having paid multi-millions in bribes has forced the company to enter into negotiations with the Public Ministry in order to return those funds. To this end, the FCC proposed something similar to barter.

Negotiations were suspended after the declaration of the pandemic. president, Cortizo, announced a direct negotiation with FCC: "We prefer as a country to quickly reach an agreement with FCC," he said.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/witnesses-describe-multi-million-bribes-for-flagship-project-1

[Moderator_02]

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Investigación a FCC: Dinero de la coima, gastado en lujosos inmuebles en Panamá

Las autoridades españolas han reunido un cúmulo de información sobre el pago de coimas en Panamá. Ahora buscan saber si FCC proporcionó sola el dinero o si intervinieron otras empresas.

 

Rolando Rodríguez B.

19 ago 2020 - 11:37 PM

Facsímil de un documento de la Fiscalía Especial Contra la Corrupción y la Criminalidad Organizada de España que revela detalles de cómo se distribuyó en Panamá el dinero de las coimas.

 

Un juzgado de instrucción de la Fiscalía Especial Contra la Corrupción y la Criminalidad Organizada de España envió el pasado 2 de julio un documento al Juzgado Central, que lleva adelante el proceso contra FCC, en el que hace importantes revelaciones sobre este caso en torno a lo que parecen ser las pruebas ya en su poder y las que pretende obtener de Panamá.

El documento narra que la Policía Judicial presentó un análisis de una de las cuentas de Mauricio Cort, abogado local contratado por FCC para supuestos servicios jurídicos. Cort era, en realidad un cobrador de coimas, que las canalizaba a través de una sociedad suya –Arados del Plata– a los destinatarios finales. Estos fondos eran proveídos por FCC, entre otras empresas, tras sobrevalorar obras en Panamá.

Cort justificaba ante los bancos el dinero recibido aduciendo que pagos por servicios profesionales que le hacía FCC. El documento de la Fiscalía Especial Contra la Corrupción y la Criminalidad Organizada de España indica que el análisis presentado por la Policía Judicial versa sobre sus cuentas en el Mizrahi Bank –el tercer banco más grande de Israel– “que, de forma resumida, revela que entre los años 2011 al 2014 [estas cuentas] se nutrieron de dos pagadores principales que conjuntamente aportaron a sus cuentas 70 millones 949 mil 85 dólares con 35 centavos”.

Así, FCC aportó $65.3 millones, en tanto que la sociedad española Telvent Tráfico y Transporte sumó otros $5.5 millones. De este total –entre 2012 y 2015– estas cuentas hicieron 18 transferencias por un total de $43.3 millones a un conjunto de destinatarios, entre los que “hay 11 [transacciones] relacionadas con la familia del expresidente de Panamá Ricardo Martinelli y con relevantes políticos de su administración”.

Federico José Suárez, exministro del MOP, durante la administración de Ricardo Martinelli. Archivo

El documento cuenta entre esos destinatarios a “Federico Suárez, ministro de Obras Públicas [MOP]; Jorge Ruiz [Sánchez], director de Contratación del MOP, Guillermo Sanz Llorens, director de la Caja de Seguridad Pública [sic]”.

“Todos ellos participaron presuntamente –indica el documento– en el cobro de un 10% de comisiones de los contratistas a los que les adjudicaron la Línea 1 y 2 del Metro de Panamá y las obras de la Ciudad de la Salud”, conocida originalmente como “Ciudad Hospitalaria”.

Añade también que “se identifica el envío de fondos de las cuentas de Mauricio Cort a la sociedad Promotora y Desarrollo Los Andes, de la que formaron también parte el Ministro de Obras Publicas y el Director de la Caja de la Seguridad Social”. En efecto, esta sociedad tuvo entre sus directivos a Ricardo Martinelli, a Suárez y a Sáez Llorens.

De estas cuentas –indica a Fiscalía Especial Contra la Corrupción y la Criminalidad Organizada de España– “los ingresos a favor de Martinelli y su círculo de allegados, bien directamente por transferencia de fondos o por la participación en inversiones inmobiliarias y mobiliarias, ascendieron a 35 millones 645 mil 483 dólares con 25 centavos”.

Guillermo Sáez Llorens, exdirector de la CSS. Archivo

Igualmente, la nota señala que “en el caso de las autoridades del Ministerio de Obras Públicas, la Policía Judicial identifica una relación directa entre Mauricio Cort con las cuentas de las mercantiles Treasure Island Development y HB Engineering, Corp., de las cuales, a su vez, el beneficiario real sería Jorge Ruiz Sánchez, quien, como se ha expuesto con anterioridad, fue responsable de la administración de contratos del MOP entre los años 2009 y 2012- Administración Martinelli”.

La lista de hechos relevantes sigue con el envío de “fondos desde las cuentas de Mauricio Cort a Raúl de Saint Malo, hermano de la vicepresidenta de Panamá en la administración del expresidente Juan Carlos Varela, quien sucedió a Ricardo Martinelli”. La relación de Raúl Saint Malo con los hermanos Ricardo Alberto y Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares es conocida, por el momento por fuentes abiertas, es decir, a través de noticias publicadas por medios de comunicación, entre otras fuentes.

La nota oficial añade que se quiere confirmar operaciones para comprar embarcaciones y un helicóptero por parte de Saint Malo, y pagos en favor de una sociedad de los hermanos Martinelli mediante la cual se compraron inmuebles en Madrid, España.

Revelador resulta el dato de que “actualmente están bloqueados, a instancias del Juzgado Central, las cuentas del Mizrahi Bank 16 millones 231 mil 368 dólares con 81 centavos. Dicha cantidad se correspondería con el beneficio de Mauricio Cort”.

Las autoridades españolas buscan recabar –a través de rogatorias a la autoridad panameña– información sobre operaciones y adquisiciones inmobiliarias reveladas en la mensajería entre Cort y su banco.

Para la Policía Judicial es relevante solicitar a Panamá información, a fin de desvelar si fueron fondos de Cort –enviados a través de la banca suiza y nutridos casi en un 85% del dinero aportado por FCC– los usados para financiar operaciones y adquisiciones inmobiliarias con miembros de la familia Martinelli o figuras de su administración (2009-2014) que adjudicaron las obras contratadas con Odebrecht y FCC o si fue exclusivamente de FCC o de alguna de sus filiales regionales.

Agrega el documento que las cuentas de Cort en el Mizrahi Bank revelan las relaciones de negocio con inmobiliarias en las que Cort participaba con terceros no identificados. “La aportación de capital en dichos negocios parece que procedió en gran medida de Mauricio Cort, reproduciendo así un patrón típico de blanqueo”, indica la fuente.

La lista de operaciones y adquisiciones inmobiliarias a las que hace alusión la Fiscalía Especial Contra la Corrupción y la Criminalidad Organizada de España incluye la compra de costosas propiedades en proyectos del empresario Mayor Alfredo Alemán, valoradas en casi $20 millones. También, una extensa finca en el este de la provincia de Panamá, igualmente valorada en millones de dólares. Las pesquisas abarcan, además, la adquisición de locales comerciales que suman, en total, otros $4 millones.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

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Investigation to FCC: Money from the bribe, spent on luxurious properties in Panama

The Spanish authorities have gathered a wealth of information on the payment of bribes in Panama. Now they are looking to know if FCC provided the money alone or if other companies intervened.

Rolando Rodríguez B.
19 Aug 2020 - 11:37 PM

<<LCXOGAWKY5EOFGA6LXNORGQBNQ.jpg>>
Facsimile of a document from the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime of Spain that reveals details of how the bribery money was distributed in Panama.

An investigating court of the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime of Spain sent a document to the Central Court on July 2, which is carrying out the process against FCC, in which it makes important revelations about this case regarding what which appear to be the evidence already in his possession and the ones he intends to obtain from Panama.

The document narrates that the Judicial Police presented an analysis of one of the accounts of Mauricio Cort, a local lawyer hired by FCC for alleged legal services. Cort was, in fact, a collector of bribes, who channeled them through a company of his - Arados del Plata - to the final recipients. These funds were provided by FCC, among other companies, after overvaluing works in Panama.

Cort justified the money received before the banks, arguing that FCC made payments for professional services. The document of the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime of Spain indicates that the analysis presented by the Judicial Police deals with their accounts at Mizrahi Bank –the third largest bank in Israel– “which, in summary, reveals that between the years 2011 to 2014 [these accounts] were nurtured by two main payers who jointly contributed 70 million 949 thousand 85 dollars with 35 cents to their accounts ”.

Thus, FCC contributed $ 65.3 million, while the Spanish company Telvent Traffic and Transport added another $ 5.5 million. Of this total –between 2012 and 2015– these accounts made 18 transfers for a total of $ 43.3 million to a set of recipients, among which “there are 11 [transactions] related to the family of the former president of Panama Ricardo Martinelli and relevant politicians from its administration ”.

<<Q7GH7RBSDVE5PCJBRVP5EDA6MY.jpg>>
Federico José Suárez, former minister of the MOP, during the administration of Ricardo Martinelli. Archive

Among those addressees the document includes “Federico Suárez, Minister of Public Works [MOP]; Jorge Ruiz [Sánchez], Director of Procurement of the MOP, Guillermo Sanz Llorens, director of the Public Security Fund [sic] ”.

"All of them presumably participated - the document indicates - in the collection of 10% of commissions from the contractors who were awarded Line 1 and 2 of the Panama Metro and the works of the City of Health", originally known as "Hospital City".

It also adds that "the sending of funds from Mauricio Cort's accounts to the Los Andes company, Promotora y Desarrollo, of which the Minister of Public Works and the Director of the Social Security Fund were also part." Indeed, this company had among its directors Ricardo Martinelli, Suárez and Sáez Llorens.

Of these accounts - he indicates to the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime of Spain - “the income in favor of Martinelli and his circle of close friends, either directly by transfer of funds or by participating in real estate and property investments, amounted to 35 million 645 thousand 483 dollars and 25 cents ”.

<<FCC.jpg>>
Guillermo Sáez Llorens, former director of the CSS. Archive

Likewise, the note indicates that “in the case of the authorities of the Ministry of Public Works, the Judicial Police identifies a direct relationship between Mauricio Cort with the accounts of the companies Treasure Island Development and HB Engineering, Corp., of which, at in turn, the real beneficiary would be Jorge Ruiz Sánchez, who, as previously stated, was responsible for the administration of MOP contracts between 2009 and 2012 - Martinelli Administration ”.

The list of relevant events continues with the sending of "funds from Mauricio Cort's accounts to Raúl de Saint Malo, brother of the vice president of Panama in the administration of former president Juan Carlos Varela, who succeeded Ricardo Martinelli." The relationship of Raúl Saint Malo with the brothers Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares is known, for the moment by open sources, that is, through news published by the media, among other sources.

The official note adds that it wants to confirm operations to buy boats and a helicopter by Saint Malo, and payments in favor of a company of the Martinelli brothers through which real estate was purchased in Madrid, Spain.

Revealing is the data that "currently are blocked, at the request of the Central Court, the accounts of Mizrahi Bank 16 million 231 thousand 368 dollars with 81 cents. This amount would correspond to the benefit of Mauricio Cort ”.

The Spanish authorities seek to collect - through requests to the Panamanian authority - information on real estate transactions and acquisitions revealed in the messaging between Cort and its bank.

For the Judicial Police, it is relevant to request information from Panama, in order to reveal whether Cort funds - sent through Swiss banks and nurtured by almost 85% of the money contributed by FCC - were those used to finance operations and real estate acquisitions with members of the Martinelli family or figures from their administration (2009-2014) who awarded the works contracted with Odebrecht and FCC or if it was exclusively from FCC or one of its regional subsidiaries.

The document adds that Cort's accounts at Mizrahi Bank reveal the business relationships with real estate companies in which Cort participated with unidentified third parties. "The capital injection in these businesses appears to have come largely from Mauricio Cort, thus reproducing a typical laundering pattern," the source indicates.

The list of real estate operations and acquisitions referred to by the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime of Spain includes the purchase of expensive properties in projects of the businessman Mayor Alfredo Alemán, valued at almost $ 20 million. Also, an extensive farm in the east of the province of Panama, equally valued in millions of dollars. The investigations also include the acquisition of commercial premises that add up to another $ 4 million in total.

 

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/dinero-de-la-coima-gastado-en-lujosos-inmuebles-en-panama/

[Moderator_02]

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OPINION: When lawyers shout from the rooftops

Posted 20/08/2020

n October 2019, the Second Superior Court of the First Judicial District confirmed the definitive dismissal that had been granted to those linked to the FCC case related to the City of Health. For its part, Spanish justice continues to unravel the complex plot of the payment of bribes for state works that required surcharges, even projecting bribes on works from other countries that had nothing to do with the prevailing cannibalism in Panama.
With the greatest of cynicisms, it seeks to manipulate public opinion, trying to turn this, and the other corruption scandals, into a battle of sides that, with a boxing spirit, dispute justice. Nothing is further from reality. While prosecutors investigate and strengthen the cases, the defendants invest millions of money in specialized groups of lawyers who are dedicated to finding formal flaws in these investigations.
It is rare to find that jurist who shouts from the rooftops "my client is innocent." Panamanians know which side the truth is on. Now we understand why they want to silence the voices that dare to question them: they seek impunity at all costs. LA PRENSA, Aug 20

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-when-lawyers-shout-from-the-rooftops-1

[Moderator_02]

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FCC busca rescindir contrato con la CSS

El proyecto Ciudad de la Salud arrancó en 2012, cuando el gobierno de Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) dio la orden de proceder por $554.3 millones.

 

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo

28 ago 2020 - 12:00 AM

La española FCC habría pagado coimas millonarias a funcionarios panameños entre 2010 y 2014. Bloomberg

La empresa española Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), acusada de gestionar coimas en Panamá, intenta rescindir el contrato que tiene con la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) para construir el proyecto Ciudad de la Salud.

Así lo informó ayer el director de la CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, quien precisó que FCC le envió una nota el miércoles, en la que le comunicó la “disolución” del contrato por razones mayores, inherentes a la pandemia.

“Sorpresivamente y después de varias reuniones con ellos, ahora nos mandan una carta en la que piden la cancelación del contrato”, que estaba en medio de una negociación, acotó.

Lau Cortés prefirió no detallar cómo responderán a FCC, pero indicó que serán “contundentes” en la defensa de los intereses de la obra y el país. Incluso, consideró que parte de la intención de FCC, al pedir que se suspenda el contrato, es que la CSS no pueda ejecutar la fianza.

El tema fue evaluado ayer por la directiva de la CSS, cuya presidenta, Esmeralda Buchanan, dijo que les preocupa el futuro de la obra.

Mientras, Domingo Moreno, coordinador de la Comisión Médica Negociadora Nacional, sostuvo que si el país no actúa con firmeza, la inversión en este proyecto caerá en un saco roto.

La obra, que tiene 65% de avance, fue adjudicada en 2012 por $554 millones y hasta ahora se ha pagado a FCC $335.7 millones.

Además, FCC reclama a la CSS unos $65 millones por “permanencia extendida”.

La empresa es investigada en España por el pago de coimas

Las investigaciones sobre el supuesto pago de sobornos de FCC a funcionarios panameños entre 2010 y 2014 –lapso correspondiente al período presidencial de Ricardo Martinelli–, continúan, luego de que la propia empresa presentara previamente dos denuncias ante la Fiscalía Anticorrupción de España sobre acuerdos comerciales suscritos por exdirectivos de esta constructora para el pago de los mencionados sobornos.

Además de haber enviado a Panamá dos solicitudes de cooperación internacional sobre este caso, el juez de la Audiencia Nacional de España, Ismael Moreno, hizo imputaciones contra subsidiarias de la multinacional española, entre ellas, FCC Construcción, FCC Construcción Centroamérica y Construcciones Hospitalarias, publicó ayer el diario digital Notiamérica, citando un cable de la agencia Europa Press.

Al margen de las responsabilidades penales que caben contra altos ejecutivos del grupo, el juez considera que éstas también “deben trascender a la compañía, porque no activó ni aplicó protocolo alguno dirigido a evitar la comisión de actos delictivos ni implementó eficazmente mecanismos de control o reacción idóneos para detectar las actuaciones criminales cometidas en el seno de la empresa”.

En sus señalamientos sobre los acuerdos denunciados antes las autoridades españolas, FCC aportó 38 facturas y transferencias libradas por la empresa a favor de la red investigada, por 82.7 millones de euros, unos $98 millones al cambio actual.

Los exdirectivos blanco de las investigaciones participaron de los mencionados contratos, hechos para encubrir el pago de dádivas, a través del supuesto pago de consultorías entre 2010 y 2014.

De acuerdo con el juez, estas facturas revelan la participación de altos directivos de las tres empresas ya mencionadas en los acuerdos de presunta corrupción respecto a 13 obras de infraestructura que licitaban en Panamá, El Salvador, Nicaragua y Costa Rica.

Precisamente, dos exdirectivos de FCC –Eugenio del Barrio y Julio Casla– confesaron el año pasado el pago de sobornos a funcionarios panameños por la adjudicación de obras, pago de deudas atrasadas y adendas, a cambio del 10% de cada dólar cobrado, hechos en los que mencionaron, entre otros, al exministro de Obras Públicas Federico José Suárez y al abogado local Mauricio Cort.

Una de las obras por la que se pagó su adjudicación fue la Ciudad Hospitalaria, hoy Ciudad de la Salud. Solo por este proyecto supuso el pago de una coima de $58 millones, incluidos $12 millones por cambios en tiempo de financiamiento de la obra para que ésta se pagara en 3 ó 4 años, en vez de 7, como estaba originalmente pactado.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

Quote

FCC seeks to terminate contract with CSS

The Ciudad de la Salud project started in 2012, when the government of Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) gave the order to proceed for $ 554.3 million.

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo
28 Aug 2020 - 12:00 AM

<<3XZ2CG3BYFBPNK7F6YEGXZ3PBA.jpg>>
The Spanish FCC would have paid millionaire bribes to Panamanian officials between 2010 and 2014. Bloomberg

The Spanish company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), accused of managing bribes in Panama, is trying to terminate the contract it has with the Social Security Fund (CSS) to build the Ciudad de la Salud project.

This was reported yesterday by the director of the CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, who specified that FCC sent him a note on Wednesday, in which he communicated the "dissolution" of the contract for major reasons, inherent to the pandemic.

"Surprisingly and after several meetings with them, now they send us a letter asking for the cancellation of the contract," which was in the middle of a negotiation, he said.

Lau Cortés preferred not to detail how they will respond to FCC, but indicated that they will be "forceful" in defending the interests of the work and the country. He even considered that part of the intention of FCC, when asking for the contract to be suspended, is that the CSS cannot execute the bond.

The issue was evaluated yesterday by the board of the CSS, whose president, Esmeralda Buchanan, said that they are concerned about the future of the work.

Meanwhile, Domingo Moreno, coordinator of the National Negotiating Medical Commission, said that if the country does not act firmly, investment in this project will fall on a deaf ear.

The work, which is 65% complete, was awarded in 2012 for $ 554 million and so far $ 335.7 million has been paid to FCC.

In addition, FCC claims about $ 65 million from the CSS for "extended stay."

The company is investigated in Spain for the payment of bribes

Investigations into the alleged payment of bribes by FCC to Panamanian officials between 2010 and 2014 - a lapse corresponding to Ricardo Martinelli's presidential term - continue, after the company itself previously submitted two complaints to the Spanish Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office regarding signed trade agreements by former directors of this construction company for the payment of the aforementioned bribes.

In addition to having sent to Panama two requests for international cooperation on this case, the judge of the Spanish National Court, Ismael Moreno, made charges against subsidiaries of the Spanish multinational, including FCC Construcción, FCC Construcción Centroamérica and Construcciones Hospitalarias, published yesterday the digital newspaper Notiamérica, citing a cable from the Europa Press agency.

Apart from the criminal responsibilities that fall against senior executives of the group, the judge considers that these also “must transcend the company, because it did not activate or apply any protocol aimed at preventing the commission of criminal acts or effectively implement control or reaction mechanisms suitable for detecting criminal actions committed within the company ”.

In its remarks about the agreements denounced before the Spanish authorities, FCC provided 38 invoices and transfers issued by the company in favor of the investigated network, for 82.7 million euros, about $ 98 million at the current exchange rate.

The former executives targeted by the investigations participated in the aforementioned contracts, made to cover up the payment of gifts, through the alleged payment of consultancies between 2010 and 2014.

According to the judge, these invoices reveal the participation of senior executives of the three companies already mentioned in the alleged corruption agreements with respect to 13 infrastructure works that were tendered in Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Precisely, two former FCC directors –Eugenio del Barrio and Julio Casla– confessed last year to paying bribes to Panamanian officials for the award of works, payment of overdue debts and addenda, in exchange for 10% of each dollar collected, made in those that mentioned, among others, the former Minister of Public Works Federico José Suárez and the local lawyer Mauricio Cort.

One of the works for which the award was paid was the Hospital City, today the City of Health. Only for this project involved the payment of a bribe of $ 58 million, including $ 12 million for changes in the financing time of the work so that it would be paid in 3 or 4 years, instead of 7, as was originally agreed.

 

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/fcc-busca-rescindir-contrato-con-la-css/

[Moderator_02]

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El reclamo de FCC es ‘inaceptable’: Cortizo

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo

28 ago 2020 - 10:36 PM

La Ciudad de la Salud fue adjudicada en 2012 por $554.3 millones. Archivo

El presidente de la República, Laurentino Cortizo, calificó ayer como “inaceptable” y “sin sustento” el reclamo económico efectuado por el consorcio español Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), contratista del proyecto Ciudad de la Salud.

Los señalamientos de Cortizo se dieron luego de que la empresa, investigada por pago de sobornos, comunicara a la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) que quiere rescindir el contrato de la obra.

Aida de Maduro, representante del Consejo Nacional de la Empresa Privada en la junta directiva de la CSS, remarcó que de ninguna manera se debe acordar un contrato nuevo con FCC y que la empresa española debe cumplir con lo aprobado en el acuerdo original.

‘La CSS responderá a FCC la próxima semana’: Lau Cortés

Malestar entre trabajadores, empresarios, autoridades y pacientes generó la intención del consorcio español Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) de rescindir el contrato pactado hace ocho años con la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS), para construir la Ciudad de la Salud, en Ancón.

Aida de Maduro, representante del Consejo Nacional de la Empresa Privada (Conep) en la junta directiva de la CSS, subrayó que FCC tiene que cumplir con el contrato, independientemente de los efectos de la actual pandemia.

El miércoles, FCC envió una nota al director de la CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, en la que le comunicó la “disolución” del contrato por razones inherentes a la pandemia de Covid-19.

Esta obra ya debió haber terminado.

“Entendemos la parte de la pandemia, pero este no es un proyecto de este período. FCC tiene una responsabilidad con el Estado y no es el momento de negociar un nuevo contrato”, argumentó la empresaria, que fue designada recientemente en la junta directiva de la CSS.

Este proyecto, que tiene 65% de avance, fue adjudicado en 2012 por $554.3 millones y hasta ahora se ha pagado a FCC $335.7 millones. Por otra parte, el consorcio reclama a la CSS unos $65 millones por “permanencia extendida”, debido a los cinco años en que la obra estuvo suspendida.

Inaceptable

Otro de los que reaccionó ayer tras conocer lo anunciado por FCC fue el presidente de la República, Laurentino Cortizo, quien dijo que tienen un equipo legal evaluando este complejo tema.

También se refirió a las demandas económicas de la empresa española. “El equipo del Seguro Social, con sus abogados, han estado conversando. Inclusive, yo fui muy preciso y les dije que esa cantidad que estaban solicitando, independientemente de todos los problemas que han tenido, para Panamá era inaceptable”, señaló.

Según el mandatario, se está hablando de una cantidad millonaria ($65 millones), que para el Gobierno no tiene sustento, especialmente con todo lo que ha pasado en el proyecto hospitalario, que tiene tantos años y no ha sido culminado.

Este mismo mes (el 12 de agosto) el mandatario llegó a decir que prefería cerrar rápidamente a un acuerdo con FCC. “Yo, personalmente, me he puesto en contacto, en videoconferencia, con ejecutivos de FCC”, manifestó Cortizo aquella vez, en un recorrido en las instalaciones de la empresa Levapan Panamá.

Alfredo Macharaviaya, quien representa al personal de Salud en la directiva de la CSS, manifestó que en cualquier decisión que se tome debe tenerse como prioridad que no se perjudiquen los intereses de la entidad.

Se le consultó a Macharaviaya si tuvo acceso a la nota que envió FCC a la CSS y señaló que fueron informados de la situación el jueves, aunque no tuvieron acceso a la misiva. “La junta directiva pidió un informe jurídico y se espera que la carta venga en dicho informe”, acotó.

A su vez, planteó que cuando existe un acuerdo entre dos partes, ambas deben cumplir con las condiciones que exige el contrato.

En palabras del médico, no debe haber menoscabo a ninguna de las partes y mucho menos a la CSS, la cual atiende a un 80% de la población del país.

“La CSS y los asegurados no pueden perder un centavo más en esta negociación con FCC”, advirtió.

Los responsables

La historia de este proyecto inició en mayo de 2012, cuando el gobierno de Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) entregó la orden de proceder por $554.3 millones. En ese momento, el director de la CSS era Guillermo Sáez-Llorens, y se contemplaba construir edificaciones para 43 quirófanos y 284 consultorios, y colocar mil 235 camas. Pero, la iniciativa suscitó múltiples críticas que iban desde el impacto ambiental que el proyecto ocasionaría en el área donde se construiría, hasta el precio de la obra.

Pese a que se adjudicó bajo la modalidad llave en mano, antes de que culminara la gestión de Martinelli se cambió a fast track, que se refiere al sistema de diseño y construcción de manera simultánea, por tanto, los trabajos de construcción se ejecutan en la medida en que se van aprobando los diferentes planos de la obra.

De acuerdo con el calendario, debía entregarse en mayo de 2015, pero Estivenson Girón, primer director de la CSS que nombró Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019), a través de auditorías, detectó varias irregularidades: problemas con el suministro de agua y el sistema eléctrico; no había registros sobre la donación del terreno para la obra; paredes de pladur, una lámina parecida al gypsum; el desbordamiento de un desagüe que corría a orilla de la vía La Floresta, e inundaciones en las parcelas del proyecto cada vez que llovía.

Frente a esta serie de irregularidades, Rafael Chavarría, dirigente del Consejo Nacional de Trabajadores Organizados (Conato) -organización con representación en la directiva de la CSS-, hizo un llamado a las autoridades para adoptar decisiones firmes, ante las pretensiones del consorcio.

“Estos señores [representante de la empresa] deben estar detenidos hace tiempo y parte de la responsabilidad la tienen las autoridades de la CSS por no ejecutar la fianza de cumplimiento cuando debían aplicarla”, puntualizó.

El sindicalista indicó que el Estado panameño no debe seguir regalando dinero de la CSS a este tipo de empresas, y menos en este momento de crisis económica causada por la pandemia.

El exviceministro de Salud Carlos Abadía hizo un llamado a la CSS para que esto no se siga negociando a puerta cerrada.

“El asegurado tiene el derecho a saber lo que ocurre en este tema. Hay pérdidas en dinero y estamos ante una empresa muy cuestionada en el mundo”, acotó Abadía.

Se consultó al director de la CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, quien aseguró que la próxima semana responderán a la empresa.

“Nuestro equipo de abogados analiza no solamente la nota, sino también la demanda ante la Comisión Internacional de Arbitraje. No vamos a permitir bajo ningún concepto que se vulnere el derecho que tiene el país de contar con un patrimonio como la Ciudad de la Salud y que en estos momentos la población lo reclama para recibir la atención en la pandemia”, destacó.

Hasta el pasado 28 de julio, este proyecto tenía un avance de 65%. La idea de la actual administración es que se concluya en este quinquenio. Tienen un cronograma por fases, y el propósito es que la última fase se entregue en noviembre de 2023.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

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FCC's claim is ‘unacceptable’: Cortizo

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo
28 Aug 2020 - 10:36 PM

<<DY3TEVAEE5AIVFYVZ2ZBUKWR3M.jpg>>
The City of Health was awarded in 2012 for $ 554.3 million. Archive

The President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, described yesterday as "unacceptable" and "without support" the economic claim made by the Spanish consortium Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), contractor of the Ciudad de la Salud project.

Cortizo's accusations came after the company, investigated for paying bribes, communicated to the Social Security Fund (CSS) that it wants to terminate the contract for the work.

Aida de Maduro, representative of the National Council of Private Enterprise on the board of directors of the CSS, remarked that in no way should a new contract be agreed with FCC and that the Spanish company must comply with what was approved in the original agreement.

‘The CSS will respond to FCC next week’: Lau Cortés

Unrest among workers, employers, authorities and patients generated the intention of the Spanish consortium Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) to terminate the contract agreed eight years ago with the Social Security Fund (CSS), to build the City of Health, in Ancon.

Aida de Maduro, representative of the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep) on the board of directors of the CSS, stressed that FCC has to comply with the contract, regardless of the effects of the current pandemic.

On Wednesday, FCC sent a note to the director of the CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, in which he communicated the "dissolution" of the contract for reasons inherent to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This work should have already finished.

“We understand the part of the pandemic, but this is not a project from this period. FCC has a responsibility with the State and it is not the moment to negotiate a new contract ”, argued the businesswoman, who was recently appointed to the board of directors of the CSS.

This project, which is 65% complete, was awarded in 2012 for $ 554.3 million and so far $ 335.7 million has been paid to FCC. On the other hand, the consortium claims about $ 65 million from the CSS for “extended stay”, due to the five years in which the work was suspended.

Unacceptable

Another of those who reacted yesterday after learning what was announced by FCC was the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, who said that they have a legal team evaluating this complex issue.

He also referred to the economic demands of the Spanish company. “The Social Security team, with their lawyers, have been talking. I was even very precise and told them that the amount they were requesting, regardless of all the problems they have had, for Panama was unacceptable, "he said.

According to the president, they are talking about a millionaire amount ($ 65 million), which for the Government has no support, especially with everything that has happened in the hospital project, which is so many years old and has not been completed.

This same month (on August 12) the president even said that he preferred to quickly close an agreement with FCC. "I, personally, have contacted FCC executives by videoconference," Cortizo said that time, on a tour of the facilities of the Levapan Panama company.

Alfredo Macharaviaya, who represents the Health personnel in the CSS board, stated that any decision taken should have as a priority that the interests of the entity are not harmed.

Macharaviaya was asked if he had access to the note that FCC sent to the CSS and indicated that they were informed of the situation on Thursday, although they did not have access to the letter. "The board of directors asked for a legal report and it is expected that the letter will come in that report," he said.

In turn, he stated that when there is an agreement between two parties, both must comply with the conditions required by the contract.

In the doctor's words, there should be no detriment to any of the parties, much less to the CSS, which serves 80% of the country's population.

"The CSS and the insured cannot lose another penny in this negotiation with FCC," he warned.

The responsible

The history of this project began in May 2012, when the government of Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) delivered the order to proceed for $ 554.3 million. At that time, the director of the CSS was Guillermo Sáez-Llorens, and it was planned to build buildings for 43 operating rooms and 284 clinics, and place 1,235 beds. But, the initiative raised multiple criticisms that ranged from the environmental impact that the project would cause in the area where it would be built, to the price of the work.

Although it was awarded under the turnkey modality, before the end of Martinelli's management it was changed to fast track, which refers to the design and construction system simultaneously, therefore, the construction works are carried out in the as the different plans of the work are approved.

According to the calendar, it was due to be delivered in May 2015, but Estivenson Girón, the first director of the CSS appointed by Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019), through audits, detected several irregularities: problems with the water supply and the electric system; there were no records on the donation of the land for the work; plasterboard walls, a sheet similar to gypsum; the overflow of a drain that ran along the La Floresta road, and flooding in the project plots every time it rained.

Faced with this series of irregularities, Rafael Chavarría, leader of the National Council of Organized Workers (Conato) -an organization with representation on the board of the CSS-, called on the authorities to adopt firm decisions, given the pretensions of the consortium.

"These gentlemen [company representative] must have been detained for a long time and part of the responsibility lies with the CSS authorities for not executing the compliance bond when they should have applied it," he said.

The trade unionist indicated that the Panamanian State should not continue giving money from the CSS to these types of companies, especially at this time of economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

The former Vice Minister of Health Carlos Abadía called on the CSS so that this does not continue to be negotiated behind closed doors.

“The insured has the right to know what happens in this matter. There are losses in money and we are facing a company that is highly questioned in the world, ”Abadía said.

The director of the CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, was consulted, who assured that next week they will respond to the company.

“Our team of lawyers analyzes not only the note, but also the claim before the International Arbitration Commission. We are not going to allow under any circumstances that the right of the country to have a heritage such as the City of Health is violated and that at this time the population demands it to receive care in the pandemic, "he stressed.

As of July 28, this project was 65% complete. The idea of the current administration is that it be concluded in this five-year period. They have a phased schedule, and the purpose is for the last phase to be delivered in November 2023.

 

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/el-reclamo-de-fcc-es-inaceptable-cortizo/

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Ministerio Público espera cinco asistencias en pesquisas de FCC

La fiscalía ha imputado a 14 personas por la presunta comisión de delitos contra la administración pública.

 

Olmedo Rodríguez Campos

30 ago 2020 - 10:48 PM

La constructora trasnacional también es investigada por las autoridades españolas por supuestos pagos de sorbornos para obras en Panamá. Archivo

La Fiscalía Especial Anticorrupción ha girado cinco asistencias judiciales relacionadas a la investigación por posible pago de sobornos para la construcción del corredor vía Brasil Tramo II, adjudicado a la empresa española Fomentos de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) durante la administración del expresidente Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014).

Dos de estas asistencias se han solicitado a Suiza, una a Costa Rica, una a España y otra a Países Bajos. Todas están pendientes de diligencias por las autoridades.

Fuentes del Ministerio Público detallaron que la asistencia dirigida al Reino de España tiene como propósito recibir los descargos de un excolaborador de la empresa constructora, quien ha sido vinculado al proceso.

Mientras que en las otras asistencias se solicita información de cuentas bancarias “de sociedades constituidas para blanquear dinero”, según las pesquisas de la fiscalía.

Por el momento en esta investigación no hay cuentas aprehendidas a ninguna de las 14 personas que se le han imputados cargos por la presunta comisión de los delitos contra la administración pública en perjuicio del Ministerio de Obras Públicas (MOP).

Sin embargo, de la Fiscalía explicaron que dado que los imputados son investigados en otros procesos ya se le han aprehendido sus cuentas. Incluso, algunos han pactado acuerdos de pena o colaboración eficaz.

Antecedentes y situación actual

Según el expediente del caso, iniciado el 19 de mayo de 2017 a raíz de una auditoría de la Contraloría General de la República y a cargo de la fiscal Ruth Morcillo, hubo sobrecostos por $41.7 millones y se sospecha del pago de coimas millonarias. La obra fue licitada por $174.5 millones, pero terminó costando $216.2 millones.

Entre las diligencias pendientes se encuentra la ejecución de una asistencia judicial para recibir los descargos del actual representante legal de FCC.

La fiscal de la causa también espera que el pleno de la Corte Suprema de Justicia resuelva un amparo de garantías planteado por la fiscalía. El recurso fue presentado el 29 de abril de 2020 luego de que el Segundo Tribunal Superior emitió un fallo el 30 de enero pasado que anuló la declaración de causa compleja y el año de prórroga que le había otorgado el 6 de diciembre de 2019 el Juzgado Undécimo penal para investigar.

Parte del expediente declarado nulo contiene las delaciones de Julio Casla y Eugenio del Barrio, exdirectivos de FCC.

FCC supuestamente pagó coimas sobre la base del 10% de los contratos adjudicados por el Ministerio de Obras Públicas, entre 2009 y 2014, para el reordenamiento vial en la capital.

Entre los investigados están el exministro del MOP, Federico Suárez; el exjefe de Operaciones del MOP Jorge Churro Ruiz y el abogado Mauricio Cort. Además cuatro exdirectivos de la constructora FCC, cuatro exfuncionafios, entre otros particulares.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

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Public Ministry expects five assistances in FCC investigations

The prosecution has charged 14 people with the alleged commission of crimes against the public administration.

Olmedo Rodriguez Campos
30 Aug 2020 - 10:48 PM

<<DWQHUKARERGGDD6RDZER7KZDNU.jpg>>
The transnational construction company is also being investigated by the Spanish authorities for alleged sorborne payments for works in Panama. Archive

The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has issued five judicial assistances related to the investigation for possible payment of bribes for the construction of the corridor via Brazil Section II, awarded to the Spanish company Fomentos de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) during the administration of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009 -2014).

Two of these assistance have been requested from Switzerland, one from Costa Rica, one from Spain and the other from the Netherlands. All are pending proceedings by the authorities.

Sources of the Public Ministry detailed that the assistance directed to the Kingdom of Spain is intended to receive the discharges of a former collaborator of the construction company, who has been linked to the process.

While in the other assistances information of bank accounts "of companies constituted to launder money" is requested, according to the investigations of the prosecution.

At the moment in this investigation, there are no accounts seized from any of the 14 people who have been charged with the alleged commission of crimes against the public administration to the detriment of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP).

However, the Prosecutor's Office explained that since the defendants are investigated in other processes, their accounts have already been seized. Some have even entered into effective collaboration or penalty agreements.

Background and current situation

According to the case file, initiated on May 19, 2017 as a result of an audit by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic and by the prosecutor Ruth Morcillo, there were cost overruns of $ 41.7 million and the payment of millionaire bribes is suspected. The work was tendered for $ 174.5 million, but ended up costing $ 216.2 million.

Among the pending proceedings is the execution of legal assistance to receive the discharges of the current legal representative of FCC.

The prosecutor in the case also hopes that the plenary session of the Supreme Court of Justice will resolve a protection of guarantees raised by the prosecution. The appeal was filed on April 29, 2020 after the Second Superior Court issued a ruling on January 30 that annulled the declaration of complex cause and the year of extension that the Eleventh Court had granted on December 6, 2019 criminal to investigate.

Part of the file declared null contains the denouncements of Julio Casla and Eugenio del Barrio, former directors of FCC.

FCC allegedly paid bribes based on 10% of the contracts awarded by the Ministry of Public Works, between 2009 and 2014, for the reorganization of roads in the capital.

Among those investigated are the former minister of the MOP, Federico Suárez; the former head of MOP Operations Jorge Churro Ruiz and the lawyer Mauricio Cort. In addition, four former directors of the FCC construction company, four former employees, among other individuals.

 

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/mp-espera-cinco-asistencias-en-pesquisas-de-fcc/

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OPINION: Corruption rewarded, the user pays

Posted 04/09/2020

The conflict between the Social Security Fund (CSS) and the FCC company - responsible for the construction of the City of Health - will not end well for anyone, but, as always, the insured will suffer the worst part. This project was born out of a dubious need, but with worse intentions. There are informants who have confessed that bribes were paid for this project to be awarded; that bribes were paid for changes in the contract. And now, are we surprised that this project is a disaster, that they want to terminate the contract?

What can you expect from a project that was born so that a few would get rich? This award is the palpable example of how corruption impoverishes and how a few rob hundreds of thousands of patients and users, who must part with their salary to have access to the health service. Those who stole enjoy the millions drained into the meager funds of an institution that have driven her to death.

 The CSS has been the target of scandals since the times of the military ... and today we see the consequences. Saving the CSS will cost us, policyholders, once again, sacrifices and hardships, because politicians consider it part of their political loot. - LA PRENSA, Sep. 4

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/opinion-corruption-rewarded-the-user-pays-1

[Moderator_02]

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FCC impide a la CSS ejecutar fianza de obra

El impedimento, hasta por 90 días, tiene que ver con la Ciudad de la Salud y es resultado de un proceso de arbitraje interpuesto por la constructora española.

 

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo

17 sep 2020 - 11:11 PM

En la segunda demanda presentada ante el Tribunal Internacional de Arbitraje, FCC reclama a la CSS $125 millones en concepto de vigencia extendida; es decir, por el tiempo que la obra estuvo detenida entre 2015 y 2019. El proyecto tiene un costo de $554

La Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) no podrá ejecutar, hasta por 90 días, la fianza de cumplimiento del proyecto Ciudad de la Salud, en Ancón.

Así lo decidió el Tribunal Internacional de Arbitraje, luego de que el consorcio español Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) presentara una demanda para que la CSS no pudiera ejercer su derecho a la fianza.

El director de la CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, dijo que los 90 días se cuentan a partir del establecimiento del tribunal arbitral para definir una segunda demanda interpuesta por FCC en ese mismo organismo internacional, por $125 millones.

Este último reclamo millonario de FCC contra la CSS es por “vigencia extendida”; es decir, el tiempo que estuvo detenida la obra.

Según Lau Cortés, el Tribunal pidió a FCC que cubra los costos de este proceso de arbitraje y le exige que extienda la fianza de cumplimiento por seis meses más, una vez venza su plazo.

Para Roberto Troncoso, expresidente de la Asociación Panameña de Ejecutivos de Empresa, es “lamentable” que una empresa recientemente inhabilitada por el Banco Mundial por corrupción, sea favorecida en este caso.

Lau: ‘Impedir que se ejecute la fianza es como un secuestro’

Como un “secuestro” calificó el director de la Caja de Seguro Social (CSS), Enrique Lau Cortés, que la entidad no pueda ejercer la fianza de cumplimiento del proyecto Ciudad de la Salud, en el corregimiento de Ancón.

Esto, luego de que el Tribunal Internacional de Arbitraje acogiera de forma parcial una demanda que presentó el grupo español Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), para que la CSS no ejecute la fianza de cumplimiento de la conflictiva obra hospitalaria, cuyo costo original es de $554 millones.

La información fue suministrada ayer por el propio director, quien subrayó que la CSS no puede hacer uso de la fianza de cumplimiento hasta por 90 días, contados a partir del establecimiento de un tribunal arbitral para definir una segunda demanda interpuesta por FCC en ese mismo organismo internacional, por $125 millones.

Este último reclamo millonario de FCC contra la CSS es por “vigencia extendida”; es decir, el tiempo que estuvo detenida la obra.

Además de impedir que la CSS ejecute la fianza, el Tribunal de Arbitraje decidió que la empresa española deberá cubrir los costos de este proceso de arbitraje y se deberá prorrogar la fianza por seis meses más, una vez venza su plazo.

Según la última adenda de tiempo aprobada para este proyecto, la culminación de la Ciudad de Salud está programada para mayo de 2021, por lo que, según el director de la CSS, la extensión de dicha adenda estaría corriendo a partir de esa fecha.

De acuerdo con el contrato firmado entre la CSS y el grupo español en 2012, la fianza de cumplimiento era de $138 millones.

Indignación

Esta decisión ha generado indignación, no sólo entre las autoridades de la CSS, sino también entre empresarios y dirigentes de los pacientes y asegurados.

Lau Cortés subrayó que con esto se despoja al Estado panameño de resarcir los incumplimientos múltiples por parte de FCC en el desarrollo de este proyecto. “Impedir que se ejecute la fianza es como un secuestro. Aquí el que ha incumplido es el que está demandando. Ante esto, vamos a hacer todo lo que tenemos que hacer para preservar los activos del país”, puntualizó.

En palabras de Lau Cortés, esto sienta un “precedente nefasto” para la Ciudad de la Salud y otros proyectos futuros, en el que se beneficia a una empresa envuelta en escándalos de corrupción. De hecho, dijo estar en desacuerdo en que empresas con acusaciones de corrupción nacional e internacional realicen obras y proyectos estatales.

“Esta estrategia dilatoria de FCC impide que habilitemos espacios para pacientes afectados por la Covid-19”, concluyó el funcionario.

Inhabilitación

Para Roberto Troncoso, expresidente de la Asociación Panameña de Ejecutivos de Empresa (Apede), es lamentable este escenario, si se toma en cuenta que FCC fue inhabilitada en Colombia por el Banco Mundial.

En efecto, el organismo financiero internacional informó que inhabilitaba a la constructora española FCC durante dos años, por presuntas “prácticas fraudulentas y de colusión” en un proyecto medioambiental en Colombia.

Pero este tema no es propio de Colombia. Actualmente, FCC es acusada en España –e investigada en el país– por supuestamente pagar coimas en Panamá.

De hecho, la propia empresa presentó dos denuncias ante la Fiscalía Anticorrupción de España sobre acuerdos comerciales suscritos por exdirectivos de la constructora para el pago de sobornos a panameños.

Precisamente, una de las obras bajo la lupa de los fiscales es la Ciudad de la Salud, que supuso el pago de una coima de $58 millones. Y eso ocurrió, pese a que en el contrato de 2012, firmado entre la CSS y FCC, se estableció una “declaración de no incurrir en prácticas corruptas”.

Según Troncoso, Panamá debe usar esto a su favor en el conflicto legal que enfrenta con FCC. “Lo que el Banco Mundial dice en el fondo es que los inhabilita por coimeros”, destacó.

Troncoso señala que los problemas de FCC para sacar adelante el proyecto de la Ciudad de la Salud nada tienen que ver con la huelga del Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Construcción y Similares (Suntracs) o la pandemia por la Covid-19, como alega la empresa.

“El verdadero problema de FCC es que sencillamente le cortaron todo el oxígeno a través de sus cuentas bancarias a nivel internacional y el Banco Mundial así lo confirma al inhabilitarla”, detalló.

Las declaraciones de Troncoso se dan luego de que FCC le planteara a la CSS, a través de una nota el pasado 25 de agosto, que rescindía el contrato de la obra porque los trabajos estuvieron suspendidos 183 días calendario debido a la huelga del Suntracs, entre el 18 de abril y el 18 de mayo de 2018, y por la paralización que hubo en la industria de la construcción, entre marzo y agosto de este año, a causa de la pandemia.

En la nota, FCC comunicó que se acogía a la cláusula 26.3 del contrato de la Ciudad de la Salud, sobre terminación por “causa de fuerza mayor o caso fortuito”.

Dicha cláusula establece que, en caso de suspensión del trabajo por causa de fuerza mayor o caso fortuito, por un período superior a 180 días calendario, o si la suma de varios períodos de suspensión alcanza los 180 días, el contratista tendrá derecho a la resolución del contrato. Además, podrá percibir la totalidad de los costos incurridos hasta ese momento.

Culminación de obra

Enma Pinzón, presidenta de la Fundación de Artritis Reumatoide de Panamá, dijo que los pacientes que se atienden en la CSS están ansiosos de que la Ciudad de la Salud esté lista para que ayude a solventar sus necesidades de atención, sobre todo ahora que el Complejo Hospitalario Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid está lleno debido a la crisis sanitaria.

“Esperamos que el gobierno se asesore muy bien para que esta empresa, que pasó dinero debajo de la mesa para esa obra, no siga sacando dinero a Panamá, y que contrate una empresa seria para que termine esta obra tan esperada por los pacientes”, dijo.

La Ciudad de la Salud tiene 65% de avance. De ese total, 40% se dio entre 2012 y 2014, y el restante 25%, entre 2014 y hasta la fecha.

Se ha pagado al contratista $335.7 millones del monto pactado, y se calcula que la obra terminará costando unos $800 millones.

La última adenda de tiempo establecía que el proyecto debía ser entregado en mayo de 2021, pero no será así. Según las autoridades de a CSS, la obra requerirá fondos adicionales y más adendas de tiempo para permitir su culminación.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

Quote

FCC prevents the CSS from executing a work bond

The impediment, for up to 90 days, has to do with the City of Health and is the result of an arbitration process filed by the Spanish construction company.

Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo
Sep 17, 2020 - 11:11 PM

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In the second lawsuit filed before the International Arbitration Court, FCC claims $ 125 million from the CSS for an extended term; that is, for the time that the work was stopped between 2015 and 2019. The project has a cost of $ 554

The Social Security Fund (CSS) will not be able to enforce, for up to 90 days, the compliance bond of the Ciudad de la Salud project, in Ancón.

This was decided by the International Arbitration Court, after the Spanish consortium Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) filed a lawsuit so that the CSS could not exercise its right to bail.

The director of the CSS, Enrique Lau Cortés, said that 90 days are counted from the establishment of the arbitral tribunal to define a second lawsuit filed by FCC in that same international organization, for $ 125 million.

This last millionaire FCC claim against the CSS is for "extended term"; that is, the time that the work was stopped.

According to Lau Cortés, the Court asked FCC to cover the costs of this arbitration process and requires it to extend the performance bond for six more months, once its term expires.

For Roberto Troncoso, former president of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives, it is "regrettable" that a company recently disqualified by the World Bank for corruption, is favored in this case.

Lau: ‘Preventing bail from being enforced is like kidnapping’

The director of the Social Security Fund (CSS), Enrique Lau Cortés, qualified as a “kidnapping” that the entity cannot exercise the guarantee of compliance with the Ciudad de la Salud project, in the village of Ancón.

This, after the International Court of Arbitration partially accepted a lawsuit filed by the Spanish group Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), so that the CSS does not execute the guarantee of compliance of the conflictive hospital work, whose original cost is of $ 554 million.

The information was provided yesterday by the director himself, who stressed that the CSS cannot make use of the performance bond for up to 90 days, counted from the establishment of an arbitral tribunal to define a second lawsuit filed by FCC in that same body. international, for $ 125 million.

This last millionaire FCC claim against the CSS is for "extended term"; that is, the time that the work was stopped.

In addition to preventing the CSS from executing the bond, the Arbitration Court decided that the Spanish company should cover the costs of this arbitration process and the bond should be extended for a further six months, once its term expires.

According to the last time addendum approved for this project, the completion of the City of Health is scheduled for May 2021, so, according to the director of the CSS, the extension of said addendum would be running from that date.

According to the contract signed between the CSS and the Spanish group in 2012, the performance bond was $ 138 million.

Indignation

This decision has generated outrage, not only among the CSS authorities, but also among businessmen and leaders of patients and policyholders.

Lau Cortés stressed that this deprives the Panamanian State of compensating the multiple breaches by FCC in the development of this project. “Preventing bail from being enforced is like kidnapping. Here the one who has defaulted is the one who is suing. Given this, we are going to do everything we have to do to preserve the country's assets, "he said.

In the words of Lau Cortés, this sets a “disastrous precedent” for the City of Health and other future projects, benefiting a company involved in corruption scandals. In fact, he said he disagreed that companies with accusations of national and international corruption carry out state works and projects.

"This delaying strategy by FCC prevents us from opening spaces for patients affected by Covid-19," the official concluded.

Disabling

For Roberto Troncoso, former president of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede), this scenario is unfortunate, if one takes into account that FCC was disqualified in Colombia by the World Bank.

Indeed, the international financial body reported that it disqualified the Spanish construction company FCC for two years, for alleged "fraudulent and collusive practices" in an environmental project in Colombia.

But this issue is not typical of Colombia. Currently, FCC is accused in Spain - and investigated in the country - for allegedly paying bribes in Panama.

In fact, the company itself filed two complaints with the Spanish Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office about commercial agreements signed by former directors of the construction company for the payment of bribes to Panamanians.

Precisely, one of the works under the magnifying glass of the prosecutors is the City of Health, which involved the payment of a bribe of $ 58 million. And that happened, despite the fact that in the 2012 contract, signed between the CSS and FCC, a “declaration of not engaging in corrupt practices” was established.

According to Troncoso, Panama must use this to its advantage in the legal conflict it faces with FCC. "What the World Bank basically says is that it disqualifies them for bribery," he said.

Troncoso points out that FCC's problems to carry out the Ciudad de la Salud project have nothing to do with the strike by the Single Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) or the Covid-19 pandemic, as alleged by the business.

"The real problem with FCC is that they simply cut off all the oxygen through its bank accounts internationally and the World Bank confirms this by disabling it," he explained.

Troncoso's statements come after the FCC raised the CSS, through a note on August 25, that it rescinded the contract for the work because the works were suspended 183 calendar days due to the Suntracs strike, between on April 18 and May 18, 2018, and by the stoppage that occurred in the construction industry, between March and August of this year, due to the pandemic.

In the note, FCC reported that it was taking advantage of clause 26.3 of the Ciudad de la Salud contract, regarding termination due to "force majeure or acts of God."

Said clause establishes that, in the event of suspension of work due to force majeure or fortuitous event, for a period greater than 180 calendar days, or if the sum of several suspension periods reaches 180 days, the contractor will have the right to termination. of the contract. In addition, you will be able to receive all of the costs incurred up to that moment.

Completion of work

Enma Pinzón, president of the Foundation for Rheumatoid Arthritis of Panama, said that the patients treated at the CSS are anxious that the City of Health is ready to help solve their care needs, especially now that the Complex Hospitalario Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid is full due to the health crisis.

"We hope that the government will advise itself very well so that this company, which spent money under the table for this work, does not continue to take money out of Panama, and that it hires a serious company to finish this work so long awaited by patients." said.

The City of Health is 65% complete. Of that total, 40% occurred between 2012 and 2014, and the remaining 25%, between 2014 and to date.

The contractor has been paid $ 335.7 million of the agreed amount, and it is estimated that the work will end up costing about $ 800 million.

The last time addendum established that the project had to be delivered in May 2021, but it will not be. According to CSS authorities, the work will require additional funds and additional time addendums to allow its completion.

 

https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/fcc-impide-a-la-css-ejecutar-fianza-de-obra/