MURCIAGATE

Balbina on the clear

04-15-2009 | MARIJULIA PUJOL LLOYD

mpujolstar@laestrella.com.pa

Panama Star PANAMA. The Public Ministry has decided to suspend the presidential and mayoral candidates corruption investigations.

The presidential candidate for the the Revolutionary Democratic Party PRD, Balbina Herrera and the mayoral candidate of the same party, Roberto “Bobby” Velasquez have been accused of receiving a total of $6 million from the Colombian scammer, David Murcia Guzman. The Alliance for Change presidential candidate, Ricardo Martinelli was accused by Herrera of money laundering.

The Attorney General, Ana Matilde Gomez said that after checking the list of campaign private donors of Balbina Herrera and Bobby Velasquez, the Public Ministry could not find any proof that they have received money from Murcia.

With regards to Martinelli, Gomez said that he does not have to present his list of private donors 60 days after the elections, and therefore she was unable to determine if he was involved with Murcia or not.

Gomez requested to the Electoral Tribunal to change the norms regarding publishing the name of the donors that give cash donations to political candidates.

The investigation started when Murcia said that he has given money to PRD candidates.