Panama. Nine guards from La Joyita jail who may have been involved in the escape of 12 prisoners last weekend have been fired. The prisoners got away by cutting bars and the perimeter fence and are believed to have been armed. So far, only one prisoner has been caught. Investigations continue.
Panama. Two post office workers who stole $3,500 in aid money that was destined for the Kuna Yala comarca have been sentenced to 4 years and 7 months in jail. The money was part of $60,000 released by the Banco Nacional and allocated for the comarca as part of the government’s Opportunity Network scheme. The anti-corruption squad is also investigating other cases of Network funds adding up to million of dollars that went missing from the scheme.
Panama. Panama city mayor, Bosco Vallarino, has admitted that he was responsible for requesting the city council to pay for his wife’s ticket and expenses to travel to Taipai to the Special Olympics. He said it was “definitely a mistake and not a crime” and that administrators in the town hall who opposed his election allowed him to issue the memo calling for funds, knowing that it would cause him embarrassment. He said his absence from the city at the same time as his vice-mayor was also a mistake and occurred because “he had not read the part of the statues that was changed by law”. He said he was willing to face any sanction that the Municipal Council decides to impose. He defended his unauthorized absence of more than 5 days, also a sanctionable offence, by saying that one day was Saturday and so does not count.
