Moderators Moderator_02 Posted October 20, 2018 Moderators Share Posted October 20, 2018 Quote 512 face probe in bus compensation scam Posted on October 19, 2018 in Panama buses once raced each other for passengers Post Views: 151 At least 63 officials of the past government have been summoned to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office as part of an investigation alleged irregularities in the compensation granted to the owners of the Panama’s notorious “diablos rojos” (red devils), discarded US school buses, that once jammed the streets of Panama city before they were largely elbowed aside by Metro buses. The ex-officers are part of a list of 512 people, including former directors of the Transit Authority (ATTT), and transport leaders and bus owners. The investigatory statements began on October 15. Roberto Moreno, Ventura Vega, and Jorge Ricardo Fábrega are the former directors who will participate in the investigation. Along with the ex-sub-director Nicolás Brea. The reasons for the complaint date from 2015 and are regarding sudden changes from trunk route to corridor, to get increased compensation (from $25,000 to $75,000), for buses that did not offer the service or did not discard for scrap, the buses they had been paid for. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/512-face-probe-in-bus-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted November 3, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted November 3, 2018 Quote “Thieving devils” named in multi-million compensation scam Posted on November 1, 2018 in Panama Compensation bonanza Post Views: 290 The names of the owners of hundreds of Panama ’s diablos rojos (red devils) -outdated US school buses- under investigation in a multi-million dollar compensation scam, were published by TVN on Wednesday, October 31. The denunciations were interposed by the ex-director of the ATTT Juan Pablo Mora; the former Minister of the Presidency Demetrio Papadimitriu; Gabriel Peñaloza; Edilma Alonso; Eduardo Samudio; Rubiela Ramos de Palacio; the lawyer Víctor Martínez; and an anonymous report. The investigations by prosecutors began on October 15. The alleged irregularities occurred because compensation payments were made for buses that did not have receipts showing they had been discarded; others who were not providing bus services but were compensated others made last-minute route changes through brokers to qualify for higher payouts. In 2010, more than 2,700 “red devils ” went out of circulation to make way for the Metrobuses. with the owners receiving an estimated compensation of over $96 million The compensations were given depending on the service provided by each bus: Red devils trunk route: $25,000 ; Red Devils Corredor routes $35,000; Corridor buses $50,000; Corridor “Fridge type” buses : $75,000 . https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/thieving-devils-named-in-multi-million-compensation-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted November 22, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted November 22, 2018 Quote Lawmakers charged in multi-millions bus compensation scam Posted on November 19, 2018 in Panama The devil's graveyard - a pot of gold Post Views: 392 LAWMAKERS from Panama’s two main political parties are among 532 former owners of Panama’s discarded private buses known as Diablos Rojos (Red Devils) who are charged with embezzlement in a multi-million dollar compensation scam when the aging, poorly serviced former US school buses were replaced with a newly purchased Metro bus fleet. Named are Carlos Santana, of the ruling Panameñista Party, and Diógenes Vergara and his deputy, Milciades Navarro, of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), and Franz Wever, (PRD) current Secretary General of the National Assembly, also allegedly involved in the Pandeportes scam. The accusations must be sent to the Supreme Court described as “competent “ to investigate deputies. The latest revelations of the plundering of the taxpayer-funded state treasury by elected officials follow the scandals of $400 million in electoral district scams, millions in fraudulent contracts and payrolls and in the bottom of the barrel the disappeared millions through Pandeportes to non-existent sports leagues while performing athletes went unfunded. The increasing scandals lend support to the Chamber of Commerce pronouncement that with its corrupt lawmakers and judges protecting each others backs Panama is close to being a failed state. Between 2010 and 2014, the State paid $94.8 million in compensation for 2,649 diablos rojos which ended up in a devil’s graveyard. Investigations of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office reveal that officials of the Transit Authority (ATTT) acted in association with owners of concessions to manipulate the system. The prosecution, led by Kira Tascón , discovered that the bus routes removed from circulation were reassigned to other owners, to benefit from the compensation. The corruption scheme also involved transport organizations that, in partnership with the new concessionaires, operated a shell game re-allocating routes and quotas with ATTT connivance reports La Prensa. The con, according to the investigations, was done in record time, so there was no way to verify the quotas, and once reassigned and transferred, with ATTT backing the door to collecting compensation for closed routes was open Indemnity was $25,000 for a trunk route; $35,000, for brokers; $ 50,000 for each Coaster bus; and $75,000 for buses with air conditioning. The compensations were paid from 2010 and until 2014, as an economic compensation of the State, after approving a contract with the Mi Bus Company. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that there was alleged complicity between officials of the Legal Advice Department of the ATTT, who were aware of the irregularities in compensation. Inquiries show that the IT Department of the ATTT has an excellent database, in which the history of a Certificate of Operation could be corroborated; however, the information was not verified by those in charge of the compensations. Complicity presumably involved the Evaluation Technical Commission, the auditors of the Treasury and Finance and Accounting Department, who prepared the check without verifying the data. It also indicates the alleged responsibility of the general director of the ATTT, who gave his guarantee for the payment; and the Comptroller General, which endorsed the payment. Charged Among those charged are, the ex-directors of the ATTT Jorge Ricardo Fábrega, Ventura Vega and Roberto Moreno; the ex-sub-director, Arturo Araúz; and the ex-director of the Unique Vehicle Registration Nicolás Brea. The prosecution also accused Juan Pablo Mora, former Secretary of Goals of the Presidency in the last government, and about 10 auditors of the Comptroller’s Office. Other anomalies The investigation shows is that buses were detected operating on non-existent routes and buses without air conditioning got $75.000. Most had expired insurance policies and others had no passenger insurance. Another anomaly was that certificates of operation of corridor routes were issued prior to the construction of the corridors. For example, certificates of operation were issued for the Southern Corridor route in 1999, but the route was inaugurated in 2000. Buses with the mechanical damage that had not been functional for a long time, were admitted to the graveyard to get compensation. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/lawmakers-charged-in-multi-millions-compensation-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 20, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted February 20, 2019 Quote Ex-transit boss loses appeal in $94.8 million compensation scam Ventura Vega Posted 19/02/2019 The Eighth Criminal Court denied an appeal to The former director of the Panama Transport Authority (ATTT) Ventura Vega Osorio, who heads a list of over 500 allegedly involved in a $94.8 corruption scam over compensation for “retired” diablos rojos,(red devils) the predecessors of the current Metro bus system. Vega wanted to invalidate an investigation order of October 2018, prepared by the Anti-Corruption Discharge Prosecutor, in which the charges are imputed and ordered to investigate it. So far 204 people have gone to the investigation of 528 imputed in the fraudulent receipt of $94.8 million compensation. paid between 2010 and 2014. Judge Leira Terán, in her ruling, sustained that part of the functions of Ventura Vega director general of the ATTT was to direct, supervise and oversee the operation and control of all land transportation services in accordance with the law and the regulations. That is to say, said the judge, "to the correct development of a process of compensation to the concessionaires". She added that the file determines that there are voluntary agreements between the parties that allegedly should not be compensated. In addition, those officials of command and jurisdiction called to verify "in detail the documents and certificates of operations to avoid damage to property", did not comply with the appropriate procedures. Because of the alleged anomalies in the compensation for buses, the prosecution charged 528 people. Among the accused are the former directors of the ATTT Jorge Ricardo Fábrega, Ventura Vega and Roberto Moreno, and the ex-director of the entity Arturo Araúz. Also on the list is the current Secretary General of the National Assembly, Franz Wever, who has to appear this week before the Public Prosecutor's Office. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ex-transit-boss-loses-appeal-in-948-million-compensation-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 22, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted February 22, 2019 Quote Ex-Minister loses appeal in transit scam probe Jorge Fabrega Posted 21/02/2019 A Former Government Minister must appear before anti-corruption prosecutors to face questioning about alleged embezzlement related to compensation of owners of Panama’sT diablos rojos (red devils) buses when they were replaced by the Metro bus system The eighth criminal judge, Bárbara Batista, denied Jorge Ricardo Fábrega an appeal seeking to annul the order of inquiry. Lawyer Eduardo Sequeira, filed the appeal for annulment claiming that when the prosecutor's office began the investigation Fabrega was acting as Minister of Government and, therefore, the said agency of instruction did not have the competence to investigate it. Judge Batista denied the appeal, as, at the time copies of the file went to the Attorney General to assume the investigation of Fabrega he was a minister of State, but once he had lost his status as a minister the Attorney General's Office returned the summaries to continue the investigation. Fábrega was appointed Minister of Government on January 13, 2012, and before, between September 2009 and 2012, he was the director of the Transit Authority (ATTT). The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office ordered his investigation because part of the red devil's bus compensation - under investigation for alleged anomalies- was during his administration. The case file includes an audit of the Comptroller General revealing r alleged irregularities in the process, during which the State disbursed $94.8 million. Of 2,649 compensation certificates, the prosecutor's office is investigating 573 for alleged anomalies. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ex-minister-loses-appeal-in-transit-scam-probe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 23, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted February 23, 2019 Quote Jet-setter suspect flaunts travel record Franz Wever Posted 22/02/2019 After several hours of questioning, the Secretary-General of the National Assembly, Franz Wever, left the offices of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office bearing a precautionary order to report once and month bans him from leaving the country. Wever, who twice failed to show, went to the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office for the investigation into the multi-million dollar compensation scam of bus quotas, known as "diablos rojos ", to make way for the operation of the Metrobús transport system. The controversial former deputy, who twice failed to be re-elected but is still on the Assembly payroll and is angling for a magisterial post has long figured in the administration of various sporting bodies which have enabled him to travel the world without having to purchase a ticket or pay for a meal or hotel room. Faced with this precautionary measure to, Wever responded that it is "better because I am tired of traveling, I have gone to 53 countries and four continents, so I cannot go anywhere else to continue spending money". Regarding the alleged compensation received, he said that he only charged for a bus he had at the time and added that he showed all documents to the Prosecutor. According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office 528 people are being investigated, of which 63 were civil servants of the Transit and Land Transportation Authority and the Secretariat of Goals, while the other 465 are transporters The investigation showed that there was a disproportion between the existing quotas in 2012 (1,762) versus the 3,317 compensations paid in 2014, whose amount reached $95.9 million. It also reveals mentions that there were reassignments of quotas so that the owners obtained more benefits, with an endorsement from the concessionaires and from the authorities. Wever, who is also president of the National Swimming Federation, aspires to be a magistrate of the Court of Auditors. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/jet-setter-suspect-flaunts-travel-record Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 27, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted May 27, 2019 Quote OPINION: Red Devils owners caught red hande Decommissioned buses Posted 26/05/2019 While Panamanians enjoy two Metro lines and a fairly friendly urban transport system, operated by Mi Bus, which replaced the infamous "red devils", one can not forget the negotiation of compensation for these public transport. Between 2010 and 2014 a total of 2,649 owners of certificates of operation of these vehicles were compensated. The compensations had a range between 25 thousand and 75 thousand dollars, according to the type of vehicle and the assigned route. The State disbursed 94.8 million dollars in the operation, which quickly became a complex web of investigations and a very long judicial case that still has no convictions in sight. Panamanian justice has shown great weaknesses, and the case of the compensations of the "red devils", which involves politicians, businessmen and transporters alike, is a very clear example of what is wrong with our justice. It is unforgivable that, after so many years, judges and magistrates have lent themselves to the abuse of dilatory measures that defense lawyers have interposed in a generalized manner. In spite of this, it is clear that the most important lesson of this case is that opacity always favors conflict of interest and, therefore, great corruption is fostered -LA PRENSA, May 26. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-red-devils-owners-caught-red-hande Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 27, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted May 27, 2019 Quote Setbacks for tranit embezzlement defendants Multi-million dollar graveyard Posted 26/05/2019 Two prominent figures including a former minister have had court setbacks in the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils) compensation embezzlement .scandal i The Eighth Criminal Court denied a release bond in for Roberto Salomón Homsany, and the Second Court of Justice rejected an appeal for annulment presented by the former Minister of Government, Jorge Ricardo Fábrega. Homsany and Fabrega are under-investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office for alleged embezzlement in the compensation of "red devils" buses during the Ricardo Martinelli administration (2009-2014). In the case of Homsany, in a ruling of May 17, Judge Leira Terán Turcios rejected bail request for bail for Homsany, in view of the risk of flight escape -with the economic resourceshe he has-, and destruction of evidence. The Anticorruption Prosecutor ordered the arrest of Homsany on April 3, 2019, after establishing that through the company Fincap, SA, of which he is legal representative, 18 buses were compensated: 17 supposedly operated on 10 routes, Among the routes were: Chilibre / Corredor Norte, Pedregal / Corredor Sur, Panama Viejo / Avenida Balboa / Albrook, Torrijos Carter / Corredor Norte, Panama Viejo / Avenida Balboa / Calle 12. The ruling states that all certificates of operation paid to Fincap, SA entered the bus compensation process with resolutions of the years 2010 and 2011, and that the possible impact caused would reach $2.4 million. The judge warns that the amount of damage caused to the State may increase, so it is necessary to maintain the detention measure to Homsany. Fabrega Case In the case of former Minister Fábrega, in a ruling of April 26, 2019, the Second Court of Justice confirmed the decision of the Eighth Court to deny an appeal seeking to annul the proceeding against him. The defense argued that the case should have been processed under the rules of the accusatory criminal system (SPA), because when summaries began, he served as government minister between 2012 and 2014. Prior to this, he was the director of the Transit Authority (2010-2012). The magistrates, rejected the argument. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/setbacks-for-tranit-embezzlement-defendants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 24, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted June 24, 2019 Quote $24 million bus compensation claims 98.2% fraudulent THE END of the road for diablos rojos. Posted 23/06/2019 $24 million bus compensation claims 98.2% fraudulent Compensation claims by the owners of Panama’s notorious diablo rojo (red devi)l buses were 98.2% fraudulent says anti-corruption prosecutor Kyra TascónT Of the 590 "red devil" bus quotas that were analyzed most received economic compensation from the State to which they were not entitled. Tascón.is carrying out the investigation related to alleged irregularities in the compensation process of the "red devils" (old US school buses) , after being replaced by the Metro Bus transport system in 2010. According to the prosecutor, only 1.8% of the economic compensations that the State paid were "honest", the rest were "fraudulent. "This means that most were compensated with irregularities, to which they had no right, she said. The prosecutor said that in the investigation it was discovered that the people who supposedly signed the procedures for compensation, at the time they are investigated, do not recognize their signatures on those documents. She reports that groups of transporters from the city of Panama traveled to the interior to buy luxury buses that they introduced as if they had provided the transportation service in the city, in order to collect the State compensation. It has also been detected that there were people who twice delivered the same bus. During one of the inspections, the prosecutor found a bus with a Mañanitas-Corredor route certificate, "but when the decal was removed, there was another route underneath" she said An audit report from the Comptroller General detected a possible patrimonial injury to the State of over $24 million or allegedly irregular payment to 590 operating certificates of the "red devils". In the process, 528 people have been charged, including former employees and transporters. Of that total, 399 people have surrendered reports La Prensa.. Among those charged by the prosecution are the former directors of the Land Transport Authority (ATTT) Jorge Ricardo Fábrega , Ventura Vega and Roberto Moreno; the sub-director of the entity Arturo Araúz, and the former director of the Unique Vehicular Registry Nicolás Brea and,Franz Wever, current Secretary General of the National Assembly. The prosecutor said that the investigation people were grouped in different situations and different facts, but with the common objective of embezzling the State. A new line of investigation opened s when 275 certificates of operation were discovered that were not part of the audit of the Comptroller's audit. "Every time a test is done, it brings more and more tests, and brings more involved and more certificates of operation, to the point that right now we have almost 275 certificates of operation to investigate," said Proscón. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/24-million-bus-compensation-claims-982-fraudulent-diablo-rojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 28, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted June 28, 2019 Quote $1 million bail for bus embezzlement suspect THE DIABLOS graveyard inPanama Paciico Posted 27/06/2019 The Eighth Criminal Court has set the bail of public transport operator Carlos Arcia, facing embezzlement charges in the compensation of diablos rojos (red devils) between 2010 and 2014 The measure was recorded in a resolution on June 18 signed by the eighth alternate criminal judge, Katherine de Suárez, who also imposed Arcia a precautionary measure preventing him from leaving the country. In the investigation, the Fourth Anticorruption Office charged 532 people, including Carlos Arcia, who, according to the investigations, would have received $500,000 for the compensation of 7 buses. According to the prosecution, in the compensation of the buses, there were alleged irregularities. To determine the amount of the bond, the said that it applies because the investigation has not yet concluded and that it is an offense committed to the detriment of a State entity, whose alleged involvement is substantial. Between 2010 and 2014, the government ordered the compensation of 2,469 "red devils" buses to give way to the Metro Bus system. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/1-million-bail-for-bus-embezzlement-suspect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted July 19, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted July 19, 2019 Quote OFF THE CUFF: Court grounds jet-setting former official with country arrest Franz Wever Posted 18/07/2019 Franz Wever the peripatetic former secretary of the National Assembly and ex-lawmaker whose, world travels over decades have been funded from the public purse has finally been grounded – by a judge. The Eighth Criminal Court granted bail of $150,000 while awaiting trial for by alleged embezzlement in the economic compensation of the diablos rojos (red devils) buses through the Transportation Authority (ATTT) In a June 25, ruling , the substitute judge Katherina de Suárez said that Wever has the precautionary measure of an impediment to leave the country and the responsibility to inform the court if he changes his address. He considered that there is no danger of destroying evidence, or risk of neglecting the process and Wever does not represent danger Wever, investigated for the alleged commission of crimes against the public administration, according to the investigation, charged $75,000 in compensation for an operation certificate for the Ciudad Bolívar-Corredor Norte route. It was a small amount when set against the cost of his taxpayer-funded jaunts. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/off-the-cuff-court-grounds-jet-setting-former-official-with-country-arrest-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted October 28, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted October 28, 2019 Quote 592 facing trial in $24 million red devils compensation scam Owners of buses heading for the wrecker's hammer claimed they were still operating Posted 27/10/2019 Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Kyra Tascón is preparing to call 532 people to trial for alleged embezzlement of over $24nillion in the compensation of "red devils " (retired US school buses). This, follows the expiration of eight months granted by the Eighth Criminal Court, to conclude the proceedings. In that time, calligraphic tests on the accused were carried out by experts from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. to confirm the authenticity of those who signed the bus operation certificates. The prosecution also requested banking information on the movement of money in accounts belonging to the related parties, performed medical examinations of some of the syndicates, and resolved hundreds of testimonies submitted by defense attorneys. Between 2010 and 2014, when Ricardo Martinelli ruled the country, 2,649 owners of operating certificates were compensated, when Metro buses were introduced, which represented a disbursement of $94.8 million. $25,000 was paid for the red devils of regular routes and $35,000 for those who were traveling through the corridors, while $ 50,000 was given to those who had coaster buses and $75,000 to those who had luxury buses. The prosecutor's investigation showed that some buses were compensated up to twice, and in other cases they were compensated for buses that were actually junked and no longer in circulation. Among those charged are the former directors of the Transportation Authority (ATTT), Jorge Ricardo Fábrega, Ventura Vega, and Roberto Moreno. That list also includes the former deputy director of the entity Arturo Araúz; and the former director of the Single Vehicle Registry of the ATTT, Nicolás Brea. Franz Wever, former secretary-general of the National Assembly (2014-2019), and current adviser to the Legislature is also facing charges. The Comptroller General detected a possible patrimonial injury to the State of over $24 million for the allegedly irregular payment of 590 operating certificates. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/592-facing-trial-in-24-million-red-devils-compensation-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 1, 2022 Moderators Share Posted January 1, 2022 Quote 700 called to diablos rojos hearing in gymnasium Posted 31/12/2021 The preliminary hearing for 543 defendants accused of “irregularities” during f the compensation process for buses called “Diablos Rojos" (Red Devils)". for the alleged commission of the crime Against the Public Administration, to the detriment of the Transportation Authority (ATTT), will be held in Roberto Durán gym to guarantee compliance with biosafety measures More than 700 are people called to attend the hearing, from January 17 to February 18, 2022, including the accused, prosecutors, plaintiffs and defenders. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/700-called-to-diablos-rojos-hearing-in-gymnasium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 12, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 12, 2022 Quote 543 defendants in $24 million buses scam case Posted 11/03/2022 The Preliminary Hearing of the “Diablos Rojos” (Red Devils) Bus Compensation case, involving 543 defendants will start on Monday, March 14. They are charged with crime Against the Public Administration, to the detriment of the Transportation Authority (ATTT) when the Metrobus system was introduced The hearing will be held at the Roberto Durán Arena Gymnasium due to the large number of accused, and its programming is contemplated until May 13. The First Liquidator Court of Criminal Cases, in charge of Judge Águeda Rentería, in order to guarantee the right to defense of all the accused and the holding of the hearing on the alternate date, will have the support of the public defense Institute, who will act as main and alternate defenders, in case the Private Defense of the accused cannot attend the hearing. On January 13, the First Criminal Cases Liquidator Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama set this new alternate date to hold the preliminary hearing, in response to an excuse presented by a private technical defense attorney. Recently the Accounts Prosecutor, Waleska Hormechea, reported that the patrimonial damage for this case is around $24 million. Hormechea details that in some of the irregularities detected there was a considerable number of beneficiaries who received compensation of more than $75,000. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/543-defendants-in-24-million-buses-scam-case-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 15, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 15, 2022 Quote 543 accused of Red Devils scam Posted 14/03/2022 The preliminary hearing of 543 people for alleged embezzlement in the "red devils" (diablos rojos) bus compensation process, opened on Monday, March 14 in the Roberto Druán Arena, where the parties focused on the argument of the prescription of the case which caused a $24 million injury to the State. The anti-corruption prosecutor Anilú Batista assured that the prescription theory lacks a legal foundation. Batista said that there are pronouncements of the courts in which the alleged prescription of the criminal action, in this case, has already been aired and that they have been categorically rejected. Meanwhile, several lawyers announced the presentation of incidents of prescription of the criminal activity. Defense attorney Carlos Herrera Morán argued that the case is time-barred since more than 12 years have elapsed since the events and that the crime under investigation is punishable by 10 years in prison, so it is clearly time-barred. it was decided to hold the hearing at the arena given the large number of defendants and lawyers participating, in addition to the secretarial staff of the First Liquidator Court of Criminal Cases of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama. The office is in charge of Judge Agueda Rentería. Batista explained that provisional and definitive dismissals have been requested at the tax hearing, in addition to the summons to trial. "There are enough elements collected in the investigation to support this request made by the MP to call for trial against 61 officials," the prosecutor remarked. The hearing will last several weeks, taking into account the number of defendants. Batista said that each of the defendants was assigned a public defender. This investigation began after an audit by the Comptroller General revealed that between 2009 and 2014 there were irregularities in the compensation process for the “red devils” buses. At that time, above all, possible anomalies in compensation to bus owners came to light, which gave way to the Metro Bus. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/543-accused-of-red-devils-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 17, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 17, 2022 Quote Red Devil bus owners claimed pay-out multiple times Posted 16/03/2022 “Red Devil” bus owners who did not even provide service on the streets of the capital were compensated and some who owned a single bus were compensated multiple times and owners of buses that operated on trunk routes and had already received compensation introduced the vehicles to the transport service in the corridors, for which they were compensated again said anti-corruption prosecutor Anilú Batista at the preliminary hearing of 541 people for the alleged embezzlement, in the case of irregular compensation to bus owners in 2010, when the Metrobús system was introduced. Batista also told the court that former officials of the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT), the concessionaires and transport companies agreed to collect compensation that caused an injury to the State of $24 million. She explained that, on occasions, the owner of a single bus was compensated several times, and added that the then officials of the General Directorate and the Subdirectorate of the Transport Authority (ATTT) were aware of the situation. She said that those compensated on trunk routes were re-introduced in the transport service in the corridors, for which they were compensated again. ATTT officials on that date were responsible for supervising the compensation process and setting controls to prevent the owner of a single bus from being compensated more than once. Money was even given to bus owners who did not even provide the service in the capital. The prosecutor stressed that this situation could be corroborated through visual inspections carried out by the prosecution at the ATTT, as well as by affidavits and inquiries that were taken during the investigation. On Wednesday, March 16, she will present the connection and direct participation of the former ATTT officials, as well as personnel from the Comptroller General's Office, who at that time failed to comply with their work of monitoring and, therefore, allowed the irregularities which caused damage to the State of $24 million. Rolando Rodríguez, defense attorney, insisted that it is a prescribed case. He argued that the criminal action was filed more than 10 years ago, but the prosecution insisted on holding a preliminary hearing. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/red-devil-bus-owners-claimed-pay-out-multiple-times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 19, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 19, 2022 Quote Carriers switched routes and plates to get compensation A diablos rojos graveyard. Posted 18/03/2022 The anti-corruption prosecutor Anilú Batista on the fourth day hearing of the “red devils” (diablos rojos) compensation scam described the modus operandi of the carriers who, irregularly and with the help of officials from the Transportation Authority (ATTT) and representatives of the concessionaires, received compensation for their buses, between 2010 and 2014. Batista alleged that some carriers, in their eagerness to obtain compensation money, brought buses from the interior whose quota had even been withdrawn. Batista explained that the directors of the concessionaires requested the suspension of the quota, then assigned it to one of the trunk or corridor routes in Panama City and certifying to the ATTT that the bus had several years of providing service on that route. To allow the change of route, the concessionaire -with the help of ATTT officials- allowed the payment of expired license plates for periods of up to eight years. In a week or 15 days, the carrier received the payment of $25,000 and $75,000. The prosecutor asked the court to call the first 25 carriers to trial, among whom are women and older adults, some of whom allege that they only lent their names to obtain the operation certificate since the true owner of the bus was a brother, husband, or partner. The prosecution presented to the court a copy of the checks in which it is stated that the buses were compensated and the documents in which the borrowers canceled the quotas and then the bus was activated on another of the Panama City routes. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/carriers-switched-routes-and-plates-to-get-compensation-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 21, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 21, 2022 Quote Bus operators rushed to banks to cash scam checks Posted 19/03/2022 At the end of the fifth day of the preliminary hearing of 541 people for alleged embezzlement through compensation to owners of red devil buses, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office requested (so far) to call 227 of the accused to trial. In the hearing that in the Roberto Durán gym, the prosecutors have presented copies of the paid checks, of the liquidation, and of the reactivation of the trunk bus quotas that, after charging, continued to circulate in the corridors. Prosecutors Anilú Batista and Kyra Tascón argued that the evidence provided shows a clear association between carriers, officials of the Transit Authority (ATTT), representatives of the loan companies, and individuals, to obtain irregular compensation, which caused "a serious damage to the State”. Prosecutor Tascón presented the connection of owners of buses that were out of service and who were later re-registered on service bus routes in the corridors, to obtain more compensation in the order of $75,000. The investigation revealed that the owners of liquidated buses cashed the checks and then went to local banks to cash them quickly and leave no trace of the money. In addition, a direct relationship between carriers, ATTT officials, and borrowers was evidenced, to speed up the compensation process reports La Prensa. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/bus-operators-rushed-to-banks-to-cash-scam-checks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 21, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 21, 2022 Quote OPINION: Theft of buses gives life to old phrase Posted 20/03/2022 After what we have heard in the preliminary hearing for the irregular compensation paid to the owners of the 'red devils', it is clear that in this country it is very easy to get rich, at the expense of the State, dishonestly and, probably, some without receiving punishment (at least for a long time). Until now, the most popular modalities to fleece the treasury, although brazen, had a certain subtlety: turnkey contracts, surcharges, addenda, subsidies, payroll, double salaries, travel expenses, consultancies... in short, the vicious circle in which all government administrations. But in this week's hearing at the Roberto Durán Arena, an entrenched criminal structure has been revealed and executed from within government agencies so that, with the approval of the Comptroller's Office, Numerous individuals charged several times for the delivery of the same good and even ended up taking something that already belonged to the State, to continue profiting from it. With the theft of things as large as a bus, the country has given a new meaning to the phrase “from hand to hand, an elephant was lost”.- LA PRENSA, Mar. 20. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-theft-of-buses-gives-life-to-old-phrase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 23, 2022 Moderators Share Posted March 23, 2022 Quote “Red devils” bus operators raffled routes - prosecutor Transport operators await their day in court at the Roberto Duran center. Posted 23/03/2022 On the seventh day of the preliminary hearing of 541 people accused of the alleged embezzlement through the irregular compensation of “red devils” type buses between 2010 and 2014, the Prosecutor’s Office revealed that there were cases in which the transport concessionaires carried out raffles for the allocation of operating certificates (quotas) to drivers who owned transport units and who later received compensation. During the session on Tuesday, March 22, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, Kyra Tascon, revealed that in an interrogation of one of the bus owners, he assured that on one occasion the concessionaires were called into a courtyard to make a raffle of operation certificates and that he was the winner. The Prosecutor's Office also revealed that once the authorities made the announcement of compensation for the buses, as a result of the entry into service of the Metro Bus, there were people who bought several buses in the interior of the country and then introduced them to the bus system as if they were in service on Panama City routes when they were not entitled to compensation. Until Monday, the Prosecutor's Office had managed to file charges against 340 of the 541 defendants. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/red-devils-bus-operators-raffled-routes-prosecutor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted May 4, 2022 Moderators Share Posted May 4, 2022 Quote Red Devils case enters 8th week with 541 defendants Arena Roberto Duran Posted 02/05/2022 The preliminary hearing of the "Red Devils" case will reach its eighth week when the presentations of the arguments of the defense attorneys resume at the Roberto Durán Arena, on Tuesday, May 3. There are 541defendants for alleged Embezzlement of the Transit Authority (ATTT). The Judicial Branch reported that, until last Friday, April 30, a total of 129 lawyers have argued, including private technicians (113) and public defenders (16), who represent 423 defendants. The hearing is in the Roberto Durán Arena in order to guarantee biosecurity measures due to the large number of parties involved. The criminal process consists of 683 volumes and the legal assistance of the accused is in charge of 238 private lawyers, in addition to 20 public defenders appointed by the Court, with the purpose of exercising the legal representation of the accused in the event that their private attorneys fail to attend. The case is related to the process of the administrative rescue of the public collective passenger transport system https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/red-devils-case-enters-8th-week-with-541-defendants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 15, 2022 Moderators Share Posted December 15, 2022 Quote 198 called to trial for “diablos rojos” $24 million scam Buses in the diablos rojos graveyard. Posted 14/12/2022 The first judge to liquidate criminal cases, Agueda Rentería, ordered the summons to trial of 198 people for alleged f embezzlement to the detriment of the Transit Authority (ATTT), through the compensation process for the "Red Devils" (diablos rojos) buses. Cases were dismissed for another 337 people. Through mixed order No. 10 of December 12, Judge Rentería granted a definitive dismissal in favor of six people, who were accused of fraud, and another 19 of embezzlement. The anti-corruption prosecutor Anilú Batista -during the preliminary hearing held between the months of March and May in the facilities of the Roberto Durán gymnasium- had requested the summons to trial of 541 people for having irregularly received the money from the compensation of the “red devils” buses to make way for the operation of the Metro Bus service. She said the scam “became a business” Rentería set a trial date of September 1-29, 2023, and an alternate date of October 9-December 7, 2023, both hearings at 9:00 a.m. In her resolution, Judge Rentería also denied the annulment motions presented by the defense attorneys and declared criminal extinction for two other people. The court denied a request for modification of the precautionary measure preventing three other defendants from leaving the country. During the preliminary hearing, the prosecution provided an audit of the Comptroller General in which the existence of a patrimonial injury of $24 million was established. On that occasion, prosecutor Batista stressed that in this case charges were brought against officials of the ATTT, the Comptroller's Office, carriers, representatives of the transportation concessionaires, and individuals who "illegally" benefited from the funds allocated by the State for the compensation of the buses. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/198-called-to-trial-for-diablos-rojos-24-million-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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