Bud Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Quote Martinelli key ally a corruption target Posted on June 19, 2016 in Panama Alma Cortes lied Post Views: 89 THE WOMAN, that ex-president Ricardo Martinelli tried to parachute in as leader of his CD Party, and whose rule was rejected, is the latest high profile member of his cabinet to face major corruption allegations Alma Cortes is facing investigation for possible unjustified enrichment of $2.5 million following an audit by the Comptroller. Federico Humbert sent the result to the Public Ministry (MP) on June 7 for “for the steps it deems appropriate”. According to the audit, Cortes canceled a $144,000, apartment mortgage and a beach house in San Carlos, for $ 255,000, during the period included in the audit,July 1, 2009 to May 31, 2015. The research also reveals that she obtained a property for $360,000 and another apartment valued at $154,000. The audit also stresses Cortes altered property values and bank accounts in her affidavit of goods, in July 2014, reports La Prensa. When Cortés entered the post of Minister of Labor (Mitradel), in July 2009, she had $22 521.06, in her bank accounts and after leaving office on May 31, 2015 they reflected a balance of $860,107.82. The figures are contained in an audit the assets of the ex-minister by the Office of the Comptroller General NEWSPAPER EXPOSE The review was initiated on 8 January 2015, based on an article published in La Estrella de Panama, about Alma Cortés. “buying and selling properties.” The official document, discloses that in the period July 1, 2014 to May 30, 2015, Cortes the ex-Minister obtained funds from known sources (salaries, travel expenses, subsistence allowance payments, loans and others) for $1,0 22 418.21, while monetary resources used (payments, expenses, assets acquired and bank balances) totaled $3,610, 348.09, showing a nonjustified capital increase so far of $2, 587 929.88 Cortes gave her affidavit of assets on July 14, 2009, based on the dictates of Law 59 However, the audit of the Comptroller found that Cortez lied and altered the real value of her goods at various points in her affidavit. The former minister listed goods at $632,000 while audit estimated at about $150,000. For example, Cortes said that as minister she received $4,000 a month in expenses when they were $3,500. She said under oath that had a balance of $ 3,000 in one of bank account, but actually had an overdraft of $909.99. The audit also discovered that she had another account with $18,000 instead of the $35,000 she declared. As mentioned above, the audit estimated that Cortes received in the indicated period $1,022,418.81 from known sources. Her salary as minister (2009-2014) totaled $ 343,000 and per diem $165 191,527. In addition she received $150,000 from the sale of her home in Castilla de Oro, San Miguelito. He also received a personal loan from HSBC for $269,000, $11,661 Democratic Change party general secretary; $2,000 for signing fees in, Cortes, Molino and Associates; $2 336 per diem after attending the board of the National Institute of Vocational Training for Human Development (Inadeh); and $2000 salary as a professor at the University of Panama. According to the auditors Cortés spent in the specified period $3,610,348.09. The above figure is divided as: credit card payments $ 492 965; loan payments $322,169; expenses $995,710; purchase of goods $939,395 and balances in banks $860,107. According to the information gathered during the audit, the former minister made payments on bank loans of $322,169. She also made payments pf $88, 182 to the loan acquired at the National Bank since 2006 for her residence in Castilla de Oro. Of this total she paid, $24,751 from her salary as minister and another $63,676 the canceled in March 2014, as the result of the sale of the property to her brother, Melvin Delgado, who worked in Mitradel with a $2,000 a month salary. She also made other payments of $2,967 to cancel the loan on her car which she acquired in May 2007 at a cost of $30,000. In January 2013 she paid $15,134 of a chattel loan with Banco General. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-key-ally-corruption-target Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Would you buy a used car from this person? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted June 21, 2016 Author Share Posted June 21, 2016 Quote Martinelli strong arm facing enrichment probe Posted on June 20, 2016 in Panama Applicants in the First job program Post Views: 89 MORE REVELATIONS are emerging about ex-president Ricardo Martinelli’s “strong arm” former Minister of Labor Alma Cortes, and her alleged ability to use the arm to push funds through the law firm Cortes, Cortes, Mulino & Associates. Alma Cortes was the person Martinelli tried to make leader of the CD Party earlier in the year when he threatened to eject all CD deputies who failed to sign an allegiance declaration. The deputies rejected both of Martinelli’s moves. The firm that carries her name, apparently received money from companies that won contracts from the ministry while she was in office. This was revealed by an audit carried out by the comptroller into the finances of the former minister, which found $2.5 million in unjustified income reports La Prensa. The audit reveals, for example, that the company Servicios Múltiples Empresariales paid the firm $637,000, which was apparently used by Cortes to purchase real estate for nearly $600,000. That company received contracts in 2011 from the “My First Job” program in 2011. The audit, encompassing the period between July 1, 2009 and May 31, 2015, was ordered in June 2015 following an exposure by La Estrella about the assets and properties of the former minister. The audit found, that the company Fundehuma, which won contracts from the ministry in 2011, made payments at the same time to Cortes’ law firm. The signatories on the firm’s account were Cortes and Michell Herrera, who worked for the ministry. La Prensa reports that after due diligence at the law firm when shown the documents showing the figures of the audit, Cortes demanded to know the name of the auditor who was going to sign the report. She visited the auditor Miriam Vásquez three times and , claimed she was being politically persecuted like former Security Minister José Raúl Mulino and ex-vice security minister Alejandro Garuz, and threatened to sue the auditor, http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-iron-lady-facing-enrichment-probe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 Quote Corruption prosecutor adds to high profile workload Posted on June 21, 2016 in Panama Alma Cortes Post Views: 43 SIXTH ANTI-CORRUPTION Prosecutor Aurelio Vásquez, will be in charge of investigating former Minister of Labor and Workforce Development Alma Cortes, who, according to an audit by the Comptroller General, could not justify property and goods totaling $2.5 million. The information was confirmed yesterday by sources of Public Prosecutions, which on June 7 received the report of the Comptroller. This investigation determined, among other things, that between 1 July 2009 and 31 May 2015, involved the audit period, Cortes bought an apartment valued at $ 144 thousand in the tower PH 1 Rokaz; other property in Tower 2 of the same building, which cost $ 154,000; a beach house in San Carlos, for $ 255,000; and another residence in Royal Country valued at $ 369,000. The audit also reveals that companies that obtained contracts with the My First Job, prompting the former minister during her tenure, to deposit sums of money from companies she gave contracts to, in a law firm where she was a partner. According to the investigation, that money would have been used by Cortés to pay for properties. Alejandro Perez, a lawyer who assumed the defense of Ricardo Martinelli and is also responsible for the Democratic Change party, said Monday, June 21 that he will report the Comptroller , Federico Humbert, for “divulging information that the law states is restricted and confidential”. The case joins other high profile processes handled by Vasquez including alleged irregularities in the purchase of musical instruments with funds from the defunct National Assistance Program (PAN) during the last government. He also handles the alleged illegal SAP system purchase by , the Social Security Fund (CSS), in which it is alleged former officials and businessmen received bribes. In addition, Vasquez is investigating the former governor of Cocle and entrepreneur Richard Fifer, and Rodrigo Esquivel, for allegedly withholding payment of employers’contribution of the CSS through three companies: Petaquilla, Panama Infrastructure Development and Gastronomy South Sea. He is also investigating the alleged web of corruption of officials of the judiciary. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/corruption-prosecutor-adds-high-profile-workload Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Quote Ex-Minister in corruption probe Posted on August 5, 2016 in Panama Alma Cortes Post Views: 84 FORMER Minister of Labor and Social Development (Mitradel), Alma Cortés is to face interrogation by an anti-corruption prosecutor for alleged unjust enrichment. According to an audit by Panama’s Comptroller General, Cortés, a practicing lawyer, could not justify $ 2.5 million in income in the period she part of the Executive Branch. The Sixth Anti-corruption prosecutor has confirmed that Cortes has been cited for Tuesday August 9. The close confident of absconding ex-president Ricardo Martinelli, whom she has frequently visited during his self imposed exile in Miami,also faces problems within the CD Party, with many of its deputies in revolt against her being named party president by Martinelli. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/former-minister-labor-social-development-mitradel-alma-cortes-face-interrogation-anti-corruption-prosecutor-alleged-unjust-enrichment-according-audit-panama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 Quote Ex- Minister questioned over $2.5 million enrichment Posted on August 11, 2016 in Panama Alma Cortés Post Views: 155 FORMER FIRST LADY Marta Martinelli led a group of protesting CD members outside the offices of offices of the Sixth Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’’s office on Thursday, August 11, when ex-Labor Minister Alma Cortés arrived to be questioned on charges of unjustified enrichment. The interview began shortly after 9 a.m. Prosecutor Aurelio Vásquez initiated the investigation based on an audit which concluded that the economic assets of the former minister (2009-2014) had increased by $2.5 million when she was in office, an amount that could not be justified. The audit was presented by Comptroller Federico Humbert to prosecutors in June. “What the comptroller has said has been taken out of context,” said Carlos Carrillo, the attorney for Cortés. Several CD members, including, demonstrated outside the prosecutor’s office as a sign of support for Cortés. Martinelli said that members of the CD are being unfairly targeted by the current government, the same argument she used at the Supreme Court when her husband, Ricardo Martinelli failed to appear to face charges. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ex-minister-questioned-2-5-million-enrichment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 (edited) Quote OFF THE CUFF: Detention follows political charade Posted on August 12, 2016 in Off The Cuff, Panama Alma Cortes detained Post Views: 140 THE CRIMINAL interrogation of an ex-cabinet minister suspected of $2.5 million illegal enrichment during the Ricardo Martinelli administration led to a political rally that blocked traffic, and had the organizers warned for noise above permitted levels and drew complaints from neighboring businesses. Alma Lorena Cortés, the former Minister of Labor and Workforce Development was facing questioning by Sixth anti-corruption prosecutor Aurelio Vásquez on Thursday August 11. Cortés is the Martinelli confidant that he had attempted to parachute in as the leader of the CD political party he founded. The move backfired and caused a split in the party with deputies rebelling against the diktat from Panama’s former president. The unjust enrichment investigation began , after an audit by the Comptroller General determined that Cortés cannot justify a net worth of $ 2.5 million. Cortés, , arrived at the Avesa, building on Via Espana where anti-corruption prosecutors’ offices are located at 9.20 am She was met as expected by CD faithful led by Martinelli spin doctor Eduardo Camacho and the former First Lady, Marta Martinelli brandishing megaphones, and banners, and with ghetto blasters turned up high volume rallying music from Martinelli’s election campaign. Before her arrival, the Cortes lawyer, Carlos Carrillo, told the waiting media: there was no case to answer and the Comptroller had it all wrong The CD demonstrator chanted “persecution” and “revenge” and Shortly before noon, blocked three lanes of traffic. The combination of loud music and the closed road caught the attention of Bella Vista corregidora, Karina Ruda, who arrived e with a document from the Ministry of Health saying that the music exceeded the allowed decibel level. “Five tests were made, all went above permitted levels. You have the right to protest, but the issue is that they have to have an authorization from the mayor, “said Ruda. La Prensa reports that the music intensity was lowed for a while, but by mid-afternoon the police arrived. An officer drew the attention of the group to the uproar. He met with Camacho, who told him he had the right to protest, but the police said that workers in the area had complained about the noise. After 12 hours of questioning the Public Ministry issued a statement that prosecutor Vasquez had ordered preventive detention for the former Minister and the investigation would continue the next day. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/preventive-detention-follows-political-charade Edited August 13, 2016 by Bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 Quote Health check returns suspect to cell Posted on August 12, 2016 in Panama Post Views: 113 WHEN EX- MINISTER of Labor Alma Cortés was ordered held in preventive detention, her lawyer objected on health grounds, a seemingly routine move in cases involving former high rollers facing corruption investigations. During her 12 hour interrogation by the Sixth Anti-corruption prosecutor, Aurelio Vásquez on Thursday, August 11 Cortés was reportedly asked if she had any health problems. After replying that she had none she was sent to the DIJ cells. She is being investigated for alleged unjust enrichment of $2.5 million while in office On the morning of Friday August 12 she was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) for a checkup. She returned handcuffed two hours later. She told waiting journalists, that her court case was motivated “by politics and revenge, the mantra of ex-President Ricardo Martinelli and his CD Party in several dozen corruption investigations, including his own and members of his family and inner circle After further questioning the former minister was returned to the holding cell of the National Police (PN) in Ancon, to fulfill the preventive detention order Carlos Carrillo, a lawyer for Cortes questioned the performance of the prosecutor who he said refused to let his client receive medical attention and said there were two paramedics at the National Police headquarters who could address any concerns. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/health-check-returns-suspect-cell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 Quote “Persecution” and health challenges Posted on August 13, 2016 in Panama, Your Man in Panama Cortes cries persecution as she heads back to a cell Post Views: 53 WHILE FORMER Labor Minister and interim CD leader Alma Cortés, mouthed “political persecution” the party mantra for anyone charged with corruption for acts committed during the Martinelli administration, her defense hauled another familiar tactic out of the legal bag of tricks. Criminal lawyer Carlos Carrillo asked for a medical evaluation for the woman accused of illegal enrichment totaling $2.5 million. During 12 hours of questioning by anti-corruption prosecutor Aurelio Vasquez, she said she had no health problems. They surfaced when the anti-corruption prosecutor announced that she would be remanded to a police cell on Thursday August 11 with questioning to continue the next day. But, instead of an appointment at the prosecutor’s office she was whisked away the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences for a two-hour medical checkup which produced good news and bad news. In reportedly good health, she arrived in handcuffs, “with a downcast face” according to media reports, and was sent back to her cell, until August 17. Meanwhile a Criminal Circuit Court rejected a bail request. The decision of the judicial authority was based on an audit revealing that the ex-Minister could not justify $ 2.5 million in assets acquired in the period 2009-2014. While Cortés, a legal advisor to ex-president Ricardo Martinelli, has time to ponder her past and future, La Prensa reports that two other people who, according to the Comptroller’s audit, could have helped Cortes acquire the $2.5 million will be facing the Anticorruption Prosecutor. Both are accused of unjustified enrichment. Hopefully they are in good health and will not attract the CD noise circus that attempted to disrupt the first Cortes arraignment. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/persecution-health-challenges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 Quote Rowdy protestors change probe venue Posted on August 17, 2016 in Panama Frustrated flag wavers Post Views: 80 WHILE FLAG waving CD protestors demonstrated on Via Espana in favor of a party member facing investigation of alleged $2.5 million illegal enrichment, the Sixth Anti-Corruption Prosecutor went to the National Police headquarters in Ancón to continue his investigationof former Minister of Labor Alma Cortés Cortés has been held at the police headquarters for the last six days on the orders of Aurelio Vasquez, The latest interview, was originally scheduled for Friday, last week but was delayed until Aug 17 so that Cortés could undergo a medical evaluation. At an initial 12 hour interview l at the office of the prosecutor on Vía España, demonstrations by CD supporters outside of the office caused a number of complaints from nearby residents and store owners due to the noise. That prompted the latest interview to take place at the police headquartersand deprived protestors of the opportunity of hearing Cortés repeat the CD mantra ” revenge political persecution” used for all former administrators facing corruption charges. Carlos Carrillo, the lawyer for the former minister, said he is seeking her release. As reports circulate that some of the flag bearers were hired help, PRD officials plan to file a complaint over the use of the party’s flags at the protests in favor of Cortés. They said that the flags were carried by people who were not members of the party reports La Prensa http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/rowdy-protestors-change-probe-venue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 20, 2016 Author Share Posted August 20, 2016 Quote Ex-Labor Minister still behind bars Posted on August 19, 2016 in Panama Post Views: 55 FORMER LABOR Minister Alma Cortés remains behind bars after her third day of interrogation, by Sixth Anti- corruption prosecutor, Aurelio Vasquez. The questioning was carried out at the headquarters of the National Police in Ancon, where she has been held in preventive detention since the night of August 11. The investigation was moved to Ancon because flag waving CD Party demonstrators disrupted traffic and, with their ghetto blasters upset residents and businesses on Via Espana. At Ancon , the “supporters”, have shrunk to a handful. Some reports described them as “hired help.” Cortes is under investigation for the alleged crime of unjust enrichment, after an audit by the Comptroller General determined that she cannot justify income of $2.5 million in the period she served as minister (2009- 2014). The investigation began on August 11 and resumed Thursday. On August 12 he was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) for evaluation. Cortés’s lawyer, Carlos Carrillo, said the prosecutor already has the results. Carrillo said his client “has laid charges against the comptroller auditors” and already requested a change of injunction. “Preventive detention is applied when there is no other precautionary measure. The fact that he ordered the preventive detention without pursuing this avenue is already questionable,” he said. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ex-labor-minister-still-behind-bars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 21, 2016 Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 Quote $300,000 bail for ex-minister Posted on August 20, 2016 in Panama Post Views: 156 EX-LABOR MINISTER and CD Party luminary Alma Cortés, who faces charges of padding her bank balance with $2.5 million dollars of unjustified enrichment while in office has been granted bail of $300,000. The decision came from the Second Criminal Court after Cortés, had spent a week behind bars in preventive detention and faced three days of questioning Sixth Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Aurelio Vásquez, Carlos Carrillo, the lawyer for Cortés, confirmed that the bail was awarded but he did not confirm the amount reports La Prensa. Her final two days of questioning took at the headquarters of the National Police in Ancón, after CD Party demonstrators had created disturbances in front of the prosecutor’s offices on Via Espana leading to protests from area residents and businesses The investigation was initiated after an audit by the comptroller found that she earned $2.5 million while in office that could not be justified. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/300000-bail-ex-minister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted August 25, 2016 Author Share Posted August 25, 2016 (edited) Quote $2.5 million enrichment suspect exits jail Posted on August 24, 2016 in Panama Post Views: 94 FORMER LABOR Minister Alma Cortés, under investigation for the alleged unjust enrichment, was released from prison on of Wednesday, August 24, after depositing bail of $ 300,000, set by the Second Court. Out of custody of the National Police and surrounded by CD party members she returned to the CD “political persecution”mantra mouthed when any member of the former administration is investigated for corruption. “I am a woman who has not committed a crime in my life and I’ll prove my innocence” she said. Before her release, members of Democratic Change were in front of the headquarters of the National Police, on the Omar Torrijos Avenue, and had an altercation with officers of the National Police. Leading the protesters was Luis Eduardo Camacho, spin doctor for Martinelli, who described the event as “repression”. During the Martinelli administration numerous demonstrators were killed and wounded by riot police. The sixth Anticorruption Prosecutor investigates the Cortes for the alleged crime of unjust enrichment, after an audit by the Comptroller General determined that her income could not justify $2.5 million in her bank accounts. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/2-5-million-enrichment-suspect-exits-jail Edited August 25, 2016 by Bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted September 11, 2016 Author Share Posted September 11, 2016 Quote Corruption suspect accuses prosecutor Posted on September 10, 2016 in Panama Alma Cortes claims psychological abuse Post Views: 82 A FORMER CD Cabinet minister facing charges of unjustified enrichment totaling $2.5 million has turned on her accuser and the country’s comptroller. Ex- Minister of Labor Alma Cortés filed a complaint on Friday September 9 against Sixth Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Aurelio Vasquez for abuse of authority. The prosecutor is investigating Cortés, a practicing lawyer, for unjustified enrichment while in office, based on an audit by the comptroller that concluded that the former minister earned $2.5 million in unjustified income while in office. Cortés was initially jailed but later released on $300,000 bond. “I was subjected to psychological abuse,” Cortés said, also adding that she was denied food while in police custody. She presented the complaint to the Office of the Attorney General. She also criticized Comptroller Federico Humbert. “That man will pay in front of justice,” she said. Earlier Cortes had attacked Electoral Tribunal chief magistrate Erasmo Pinilla for considering another term in office, citing earlier accusations of nepotism. She in turn was accused of hypocrisy, for employing half a dozen family members when she was in office. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/corruption-suspect-accuses-prosecutor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 14, 2016 Moderators Share Posted December 14, 2016 Quote Martinelli bound ex-minister stopped at airport Posted on December 13, 2016 in Panama Post Views: 248 ALMA CORTÉS, a former Minister of Labor and official with the CD party, who is under investigation for unjustified enrichment while in office was stopped from boarding a flight to Miami on Tuesday Dec.16. According to Cortés, immigration authorities at Tocumen International Airport did not receive the notification of the Fourth Criminal Court, which authorized Cortés to travel to the United States. The investigation is led by the Sixth AntiCorruption Prosecutor’s Office. Cortés had been authorized by the court to travel between Dec. 12 and 14 to Miami, but the notice wasn’t received in time to notify immigration officials. Cortés is currently deputy secretary general of the CD, whose president is Ricardo Martinelli, the former president of the republic who is living in Miami. This week he received a number of CD members as he struggles to unite the party he founded and which propelled him tp the presidency. Matinelli faces multiple corruption charges, and fled the country two years ago. If found guilty he could face 20 years in jail for wiretapping political opponents, journalists judges and businessmen. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-bound-ex-minister-stopped-airport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 14, 2016 Moderators Share Posted December 14, 2016 http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Impiden-Alma-Cortes-Miami-Unidos_21_4642995666.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 This woman will be allowed to leave for Miami, just not yesterday. She is Martinelli's puppet here and still has a lot to answer for in the courts, if and when she returns from her travels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 26, 2017 Moderators Share Posted January 26, 2017 Quote Ex-minister’s bank accounts, property, seized Posted on January 25, 2017 in Panama Post Views: 144 THE BANK accounts and property, of Alma Cortes, Minister of Work and Social Development (Mitradel) in the Ricardo Martinelli administration were seized on Wednesday, Jan. 25. She is under country arrest facing charges of unjustified enrichment during the government of Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014). Judicial sources confirmed that accounts belonging to Cortes in two local banks were seized. The properties sized have not been identified. Cortes, is also a board member of the Democratic Change Party and since he fled to Miami the party’s founder, Ricardo Martinelli, has been maneuvering to get her appointed president in his stead. An audit prepared by the Comptroller’s Office concluded that the $2.5 million assets she reported cannot be justified. In December she was unable to travel to Miami. According to Cortés the immigration authorities at the airport of Tocumen had not received the notification of the Fourth Criminal Court authorizing her to travel, however, she has not made a new attempt to enter the United States, reports La Prensa. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ex-ministers-bank-accounts-property-seized Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 26, 2017 Moderators Share Posted January 26, 2017 The Alma Cortés corruption scandal postings were split out into a separate topic as of today. Previously these postings were part of the "Miscellaneous Corruption and Fraud Investigations" topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 31, 2017 Moderators Share Posted January 31, 2017 Quote 11 ex-minister bank accounts frozen Posted on January 30, 2017 in Panama Post Views: 95 ALMA CORTÉS, Minister of Labor in the Ricardo Martinelli administration (20092014), has had 11 bank accounts frozen while she is facing charges of unjustified enrichment. She is being investigated after an audit by the Comptroller General found that her assets increased by $2.5 million while in office. Cortés confirmed the bank information Monday, Jan 30 as she entered the offices of the Sixth AntiCorruption Prosecutor for questioning. The former minister, who is a lawyer said that some of the frozen funds belong to partners at the law firm Cortés, Molino & Asociados. The charges said that Coréa was linked to companies that obtained contracts from the “Mi Primer Empleo,” (My First Job) program which was run by her ministry. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/11-ex-minister-bank-accounts-frozen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 6, 2017 Moderators Share Posted February 6, 2017 http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Fiscal-sustenta-aprehender-cuentas-Cortes_21_4684241533.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 21, 2017 Moderators Share Posted May 21, 2017 Quote Trial call for Martinelli era Minister Posted on May 20, 2017 in Panama Post Views: 114 THE SIXTH Anti-Corruption Prosecutor has asked the Fourth Criminal Court to call Alma Cortés the stand-in leader of the CD party to trial for alleged unjustified enrichment. The request was sent to the court, on Friday, May 19 confirmed judicial sources. In the document the prosecutor Aurelio Vásquez, also asks for the trial of five others because of alleged involvement in the judicial process. Cortes was investigated after an audit by the Office of the Comptroller Genera showed an unjustifiable increase of $2.5 million, in her assets In August 2016, Cortes was held in preventive detention.. Two weeks later she was released after posting a $300,000 bail bond. On multiple occasions, Cortes, a former cabinet minister in the Ricardo Martinelli administration has repeated the mantra of her former boss that prosecutions of those alleged to have lined their pockets during his reign, are political persecution. She claims that Prosecutor Vásquez has violated due process. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/trial-call-martinelli-eraminister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted July 14, 2017 Moderators Share Posted July 14, 2017 Quote Setback for ex-minister in expenses fiddle probe Posted on July 13, 2017 in Panama Alma Cortes Post Views: 159 FORMER Minister of Labor and Labor Development Alma Cortes has suffered another setback in her defense against charges of fiddling her travel expenses. The Second Superior Court of Justice has upheld the validity of the order to investigate her for the alleged commission of the crime against the public administration. The ruling of June 22, signed by judges Eda Cecilia Gutiérrez de Jiménez and María de Lourdes Estrada Villar, confirms a decision adopted by The ruling of June 22, signed by judges Eda Cecilia Gutiérrez de Jiménez and María de Lourdes Estrada Villar, confirms a decision adopted by The Twelfth Criminal Court, which on March 22 denied a move by her defense to block investigation of events in March 2011 when she received $18,900 To participate in a meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO), in Geneva, Switzerland. But, according to an audit report, the amount sh received was for 27 days of participation, and she only attended eight. “The -Ex-Minister Alma Cortés left Panama on March 18 and returned on March 25, 2011 a shorter period than that for which the sum of $18,900 was granted,” says the ruling of the Second Court. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is investigating in total – five people, who “charged for days where they did not participate in the mission entrusted to them. An economic loss to the State of $49,000 was determined. Three of the defendants have already made “The respective return” of the per diems overcharged. reports La Prensa. The facts were denounced by Luis Carles, who succeeded Cortes at the ministry. In this case, Cortes was already investigated on October 17 and 18. The defense of the ex-employee alleged that there was insufficient evidence to support inquiries. However, the court decided that “there are elements necessary to consider a probable link of Alma Lorena Cortes Aguilar and , the investigation has legal support.” This criterion was backed by the Second High Court. Justice. The Court also upheld the prosecutor’s decision to order the investigation of Ivan Gantes Castillo, former Foreign Affairs Advisor at the Ministry. Ghent, according to the file received $16,200 of travel expenses, of which he returned $3,000. Cortes, pro tem leader of the CD party is also under investigation for illegal enrichment of over $1 million while in office. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/setback-ex-minister-expenses-fiddle-probe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted October 25, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 25, 2018 Quote Ex-Labor Minister heading to court in expenses scam Posted on October 24, 2018 in Panama Alma Cortes Post Views: 104 Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s announced on Wednesday, October 24, the continuation of the case against former Labor Minister Alma Cortés and six other ex-officers of the ministry( IMitradel) for the alleged embezzlement of $49,000 in a travel expenses scam. The process concerns three meetings of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, supposedly attended by Ministry officers. After the investigations that began in August 2014, the prosecution points out that the officers received two travel expenses for the same trip, and in addition received travel expenses on days they did not participate in the meetings. An audit of the Comptroller General estimated possible injury to the State of more than $49,000 the in the alleged appropriation of travel expenses. Then minister Cortés requested travel expenses for herself, for her sister Lourdes Cortés (technical advisor), Hernán García (general secretary of the ministry), Iván Gantes (international affairs consultant) and Julia Aidée Zeballos (assistant among others. Lourdes Cortés, a deputy of the Central American Parliament, is investigated by the Supreme Court Tthe Court admitted the complaint in 2015. The trial against Alma Cortés and the rest of the former officials is awaiting a preliminary hearing by the 12th riminal Court. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ex-labor-minister-heading-to-court-in-expenses-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 27, 2020 Moderators Share Posted January 27, 2020 Quote Judge nixes escape move of ex-Minister Posted 26/01/2020 The Fourth Criminal Court rejected three incidents that sought to declare the process prescribed for alleged of corruption that follows Erick Francisco Alvarado, Bolívar Espino and Osiris Herrera, as part of the case of former Labor Minister Alma Cortes of unjustified enrichment. Judge Yamileth Robles denied the three incidents in a ruling on January 14. The defendants alleged that the “facts investigated cover the period between June 1, 2009, and May 31, 2015, and to date more than 8 years have elapsed without there being any event that interrupts the limitation period”, which as they say, it is 6 years. However, the judge concluded that the date that applies to the prescription is the beginning of the case, in 2015, and not when the wrongful act was perpetrated, in 2009, as the defendants allege. The process began in 2015, after an audit of the Comptroller General, asked to investigate Cortes for alleged unjustified enrichment. The investigation established that, as a representative of the Foundation for Human and Environmental Development, Bolívar Espino wrote checks to Cortes for $17,000 and $16,000; while Alvarado Santos, who also acted as representative of that foundation, deposited two checks for $16,000 that were endorsed by Osiris Herrera and deposited in the former minister's accounts. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/judge-nixes-escape-move-of-ex-minister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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