ILLEGAL PROSTITUTION

Brothel near Martinelli’s house

08-17-2009 | STAFF

mpujolstar@laestrella.com.pa

Panama Star PANAMA. President Ricardo Martinelli took his clean-up Panama campaign closer to home this weekend when, together with the city mayor, he headed a team that raided a club selling cocaine only 150 meters from his home.

Police arrested nine Colombians, three Brazilians, one Panamanian and a Canadian who was the administrator and refused to talk to the press after the brothel was closed.

Police reports said that prostitutes and clients are currently under investigation by the Investigative Judicial Department (DIJ).

During the raid, police seized condoms, drugs, liquor, as well as an agenda containing not only the names of the prostitutes but also the list of clients and the payments they had made to these women.

Martinelli, surrounded by police and his personal security, said that he was surprised that the brothel was operating near his home, which is located in an exclusive area. The massage parlor, known as Jet Set Elegant, even had its own web page advertising its “services”.

The president encouraged the police authorities to continue their fight against crime and immoral activities.

Panama city mayor, Bosco Vallarino, said that the raid took place thanks to a denouncement made by San Francisco representative, Carlos Perez. Perez said that although the authorities knew of the existence of the brothel, nobody had wanted to investigate the matter further.

Later the same night, another illegal brothel was discovered in Via Porras. This brothel was operating as a massage parlor. Several Panamanians and foreigners were arrested. The foreign prostitutes were transferred to the Immigration Department because they did not have documentation.

Later still, Vallarino accompanied members of the Civil Protection Service (Sinaproc) to Via Veneto and Calle Uruguay to check discotheques and bars.

Sinaproc found that many nightclubs did not have easily accessible emergency exits that could be used in the event of an evacuation.