Search for the vanished millions

Three of the letters were addressed to Murcia’s partner, Ernesto Chong III, the representative of the company Panama International Marine Corp.

In Colombia, David Murcia will appear before preliminary hearing to answer charges of money laundering and will need funds to pay for his defense, which could explain why he sent letters to Chong demanding the return of $8 million.

The Panamanian Public Ministry has investigated 245 companies in Panama and 14 frozen bank accounts in different financial institutions and more than 600 individuals affected by the fraud have given their sworn affidavits.

The pyramid scandal created by Murcia Guzman plus the criminal proceedings he is facing in Colombia are threatening to drag into a black hole not only the 245 companies that he created in Panama, but also Panamanian, and foreign banks.

The documents that linked thefinancial institutions with DMG are moving around in different circles.

La Estrella had access to letters given instructions for checks to be deposited in at least 17 local banks and three savings co-operative institutions, which allegedly received millions of dollars of funds from DMG.

The common denominator in all of the letters is Ernesto Chong III, to whom Murcia had sent written threatening messages from jail, in which he asked for his $8 million back.

One of the notes dated October 17, 2008 that could have been sent by Abelardo Lassonde, Administrative Manager of Comercializadora Virtual, to Chong, who is responsible for the PMC Group,

The letter has attached a list of checks, with detailed numbers, dates, bank names, the quantity of money and deposit slips.

There were two additional letters and lists: one dated October 15 2008, also signed by Lassonde and another for October 9 2008 signed by Efrain Duque, that could have reached Chong.

The checks deposited could have been used by the companies I.L.M. International Holding, R.H.E. International and Alliance Capital Group Inc., to pay bills, operation costs, payrolls, interests and money to customers of the group headed by Murcia, who was arrested November 19 in his residence located in Campana, district of Capira.

What it is not known is how the legal representatives of those companies managed to open accounts in 17 different banks, including the two government ones, Caja de Ahorros and the National Bank of Panama, as well as three co-operatives.

A spokesman of the Banks Superintendency said that for legal reasons he cannot given an opinion with regards to the case. The National Bank also refused to comment. Murcia is also being investigated the Public Ministry for money laundering charges.