One name, two accounts

PANAMÁ. More clouds have gathered over the Antonio Taquis, ex-consul of El Pireo port in and former Panamanian ambassador in Greece who, for unknown reasons opened up two separate bank accounts under the same name.

One bank account, the Panama Star has learned, was used for deposits of clients that wanted a service of the consulate canceled.

The other serves as his “official” banking account. This account is monitored and audited throughout the year by Panamanian authorities.

At first, deposits were made into the account solely in Euros, collated with a number of invoices the consulate had given to their clients.

The two bank accounts have raised more than a few eyebrows, as one account neglects to use the official seal of the state, while the other comes complete with the official nomenclature.

For example, the Ugly Duckling company employed the services of the consulate in late May of 2008. The receipts of this exchange were found in the notebook of the accounts without the official Panamanian seal.

The evidence comes out as another strike against the consulate, already under an investigation from the Anti-Corruption Office after a number of irregularities were found.

The irregularities first came to light after a request for reimbursement from the consulate was rejected by the state after it seemed that accounts had been altered.

The request for reimbursement included a number of yachts rented for a consulate party that seemingly had altered and super imposed numbers on receipts.