Four Panamanian judges fired for “irregularities”

PANAMA. Four Panamanian judges have been suspended for irregularities uncovered during widespread audits by the Judicial Audit Office.

Suspended are: Ruben Royo of the Sixth Court, Felipe Fuentes of the Seventh Court, Ricardo Mazza of the Second Penal Circuit of La Chorrera and Xiomara Bulgin Wilson. Second Circuit judge of Colon,

The suspensions were ordered by Supreme Court judges who form part of the General Affairs Fourth Tribunal.

Among the irregularities found were files awaiting to be admitted in lawsuit cases, files awaiting to be processed for several years, failure in setting dates for trials, delays in carrying out discovery of proofs, outstanding summaries in respect of enquiries, failure to sign freedom releases and severe failures of supervision and control of the judicial offices.

Judge Mazza has been under investigation after several of his sentences were reversed by the Supreme Court of Justice.

One of the most controversial cases was the acquittal of Rodolfo “Charro” Espino,uncle of President Martin Torrijos, for crimes against the environment after he destroyed hectares of mangrove in Chame.

The resolutions for the suspension are dated May 12 2009.

According to the supreme judges, the four judicial tribunals did not comply with the legal terms establish by the law.

The Fourth Tribunal said that the suspended judges had the right to defend themselves during the investigation as well as to appeal the resolutions within five working days after being notified of this measure.

All four have decided to appeal.

The audits were started under the aegis of the current Supreme Court president Harley Mitchell who has, since taking office in 2008, committed himself to eradicating inefficiency and corruption in Panama’s judicial system.