Major corruption deals alleged

The source of the accusations is the Colombian disgraced entrepreneur David Murcia Guzman, who is currently in Picota jail in Bogota, awaiting trial for fraud.

Murcia said that when he was in Panama, he decided to support the government party Democratic Revolutionary Party PRD because after analyzinghis options it was the better bet and he gave it $6 million.

He said that Half of it when to the PRD mayoral candidate, Roberto “Bobby” Velasquez and the other $3 million was given to the PRD presidential candidate, Balbina Herrera.

“I personally dealt with Bobby Velasquez’s father, who is one of the PRD’s founders and with Bobby himself. They came looking for me. So I “donated” $6 million in cash. $3 million for Bobby and $3 million for Balbina. Everything happened through the Velasquez, who came in the name of the PRD. They even told me that Bobby was Torrijos’ blue eyed boy,” said Murcia.

According to the Colombian, in a meeting that took place in June 2008, representatives of the PRD told him that they could receive investments and also donations. Apparently, with the investments Murcia, could get construction contracts to redesign streets, clean beaches to mention a few.

Murcia believed that by given the PRD money he could get protection, but at the end he was betrayed and extradited to Colombia.

Meanwhile, Bobby Velásquez vehemently denied that he received any money from Murcia, but admitted on national television that he knew Murcia briefly and did not give any other details. Balbina Herrera took more drastic measures to clear her name and went to the Attorney General to accuse the Democratic Change CD (Cambio Democratico) presidential candidate Ricardo Martinelli of money laundering, fraud and illicit association with the purpose of committing a crime.

Herrera also requested that immigration investigates the arrival of Murcia’s Colombian team of lawyers to Panama, who apparently met with Martinelli’s campaign team at the Bristol Hotel. However, she did not divulge the date.

She fervently denied receiving a cent from Murcia and insisted that Martinelli through his chain of supermarkets 99, was involved in the DMG network and participated in the pyramid scheme.