Castro still behind bars

PANAMA. Ex-Minister of Education, Belgis Castro was back behind bars yesterday after his petition for habeas corpus was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Castro was arrested on August 26 and charged with suspected embezzlement after irregularities were found in contracts to remove fibreglass from the ceilings of 8 schools in Panana West.

His lawyer, Carlos Carrillo tried to argue that Castro’s detention in police cells was illegal and that he should be released or at the most be put under house arrest.

Six judges voted against the petition which was prepared by judge Victor Benavides.

They made four specific objections and asked for judge Jeronimo Mejia to take over the case. It is probable that Mejia will take five days to review the petition and will re-present it to the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The judges also discussed the habeas corpus application by another ex-Minister of Education, Salvador Rodriguez, who is also alleged to have embezzled MEDUCA funds.

Rodriguez applied for habeas corpus before he was charged with any offence and had his petition granted.

However, the Supreme Court overturned this decision, ruling that a habeas corpus application cannot be granted before a person has been detained.

Habeas corpus is a judicial measure aimed to protect an individual’s liberty and to prevent arbitrary arrests and detentions.

Under habeas corpus, people who have been arrested have to be presented within 24 hours before a judge who will determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant continued detention.

Once a habeas corpus application has been granted, Articles 22 and 23 of the Panamanian constitution say that the Supreme Court has to sit and hear the evidence until a decision can be made whether continued detention is lawful or not.

It now remains to be seen if the anti-corruption authorities go ahead and arrest Salvador Rodriguez or if they still do not have sufficient evidence to warrant his long-term detention.