Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 24, 2019 Moderators Share Posted May 24, 2019 Quote Twin raids in $9 million sports scam probe Posted 23/05/2019 The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office carried out simultaneous raids on Thursday, May 23 in Santa Ana and Parque Lefevre on two companies Dutary Sports and Niky’s Corporation under the spotlight in an investigation of alleged irregularities in the purchase of sports equipment by sports federations with funds from the Panamanian Sports Institute (Pandeportes), The anti-corruption prosecutor, Leyda Sáenz said that the investigation is preliminary. “There have been about 17 inspections to different areas of difficult access and so far there is no record, in these areas, that sports equipment has have been received." Sáenz clarified that in this phase of the investigation there are no detainees. A report submitted by the Office of the Comptroller General reflects inconsistencies in money, for an approximate amount of $ 9 million. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/twin-raids-in-9-million-sports-scam-probe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 25, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted May 25, 2019 Quote OPINION: Theft in the guise of sport Posted 24/05/2019 The scandal of the donations that Pandeportes sent to different organizations has entered a new phase. The Public Ministry undertook a preliminary investigation to validate the deviation of some 9 million dollars that should have been used for the purchase of sports equipment and other related activities. As this newspaper has already published, the fate of these funds passed through the hands of deputies and other senior officials of the National Assembly. Although on July 1, several of the alleged implicated will lose their seats, the truth is that the Supreme Court of Justice will have to assume the investigation of deputies in office. The prosecution was able to verify 17 locations supposedly beneficiaries of the state financing, without finding any trace of donation in any of them. What the sport and the Panamanian athletes have suffered for this outrage is a tragedy. The new administration can amend this by demanding responsibilities from the politicians of its own party, and thus demonstrate that its code of honor and its fight against corruption are true: forbidden to lie, steal and betray the country and Panamanians - LA PRENSA, May 24. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-theft-in-the-guise-of-sport-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 5, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted June 5, 2019 Quote Anti-corruption squad raids government sports body Posted 04/06/2019 The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s team raided the offices of the Panamanian Institute of Sports ( Pandeportes), in Juan Díaz, on Tuesday, June 4 as part of the investigation into the scandal of the economic contributions allegedly made by the entity to sports associations and federations. The Office of the Prosecutor and the Office of the Comptroller General began the probe after a series of investigative reports by La Prensa, which uncovered the irregular management of the funds that Pandeportes contributed to the sports federations, several of them linked to deputies of the National Assembly. It was shown that equipment meant for some teams, and others were shown to have received “virtual” baseball pats invoiced at $600 apiece The Tuesday Tuesday swoop was headed by anti-corruption prosecutor Leyda Sáenz, with the prior authorization of a judge of guarantees. She complained of lack of cooperation from Pandeportes. "The message is that all public entities, natural persons, legal entities, are obliged to collaborate with the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) when the MP requires some type of information." If the information is not provided or you are evasive, we have a legal power to request an authorization from a judge to conduct a search warrant, as is being done today, "said the prosecutor. Sáenz explained that the prosecutor's office conducted an investigation in March of this year, but "we have not received the corresponding response as a result of that diligence." She added that auditors of the Comptroller of the Republic have indicated that they have not been given all the support concerned by that entity. On May 23 the prosecutor's office conducted inspections of the suppliers Dutary Sport and Nikys Corp, seeking some evidence that the companies had delivered the sports equipment acquired with Pandeportes funds. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/anti-corruption-squad-raids-government-sports-body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 6, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted June 6, 2019 Quote OPINION: Crime busting journalism Posted 05/06/2019 The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office raided the Pandeportes headquarters yesterday, as part of the investigation for the alleged irregular handling of funds that this entity contributed to federations and sports associations, some of which were managed by deputies. The discovery of this issue was the result of journalistic investigations that delved into the political replay of the pact of governability, translated into payrolls and with contracts for the benefit of deputies related or allied to the government of Juan Carlos Varela. The citizen reaction of rejection to this negotiated inspired the claim of "No to reelection", the force behind the defeat of some thirty deputies. This achievement for democracy finds its backing in the proposal for constitutional reforms, which includes a clear ban on deputies administering public funds. And although the denunciations against these are paralyzed by the Supreme Court the change in the political culture provoked by independent journalism reinforces the notion that the freedoms of expression and information are fundamental to keep democracy alive. An independent, truthful and timely journalism that we will continue to exercise during the government that begins shortly.- LA PRENSA. June 5 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-crime-busting-journalism Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted August 17, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted August 17, 2019 Quote Olympic gold medallist will represent athletes in scandal ridden sports body Posted 16/08/2019 Panama’s Olympic gold medallist Irving Saladino took on the role of s technical director of the Panamanian Sports Institute (Pandeportes), on Friday, August 16, raising hopes of underfunded athletes that they will now have a voice in the scandal-plagued bureaucratic institution. The entity says that Saladin will contribute his experience and knowledge in favor of the athletes. Saladin said he was happy with the designation. “A dream that we had been looking for a long time and has been fulfilled. We hope to give the best to athletes. ” “I was an athlete and I know what is happening ... There are certain things that must be improved in sport and this designation is a great opportunity," he said. "There is much to change within the institution. We must improve the statutes of the federations where many people have been for years. That has been the defect of national sport, so we hope to correct many things " he added. Saladino, was the winner of the gold medal in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/olympic-gold-medallist-will-represent-athletes-in-scandal-ridden-sports-body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 11, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted September 11, 2019 Quote First two charged in $9 million non-delivered sports equipment probe Posted 10/09/2019 Charges were laid by a judge of guarantees and a precautionary measure to report on the 30th of each month issued against two businessmen investigated in the Pandeportes scandal. The Pubic Ministry in the midst of the investigations for crimes against public administration with a possible loss to the State of $9 million. The deputy anti-corruption prosecutor Manuel Barrías on his way out of the court in Plaza Agora said that it is not ruled out to call more people who could be related to this case and that the judicial measures were imposed on two merchants. The investigation took off on May 23, when authorities of the Public Ministry raided two commercial stores dedicated to the sale of sports clothing and equipment. Subsequently, proceedings were also carried out at the main offices of Pandeportes, at the headquarters of the Panama Baseball Federation (Fedebeis) and at the Eyleen Coparropa pool. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office said that after 17 inspections, there is no record and no evidence has been found that sports equipment purchased with funds destined by Pandeportes to federations and sports organizations linked to deputies were delivered to areas of difficult access in the Ngäbe Bugle region “This is a preliminary investigation. There have been about 17 inspections in areas of difficult access, so far there is no record that sports equipment has been received,” said anti-corruption prosecutor Leida Sáenz recently. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/first-two-charged-in-9-million-non-delivered-sports-equipment-probe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 27, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted September 27, 2019 Quote Turning a blind eye to robber politicians Posted 26/09/2019 For the State, an audit is a systematic review of the management of public funds, which is carried out by an official or an entity. When the Comptroller General, the great auditor of the nation, reviewed the accounts of the payments that Pandeportes made to federations and sports organizations, he found that more than $13 million were handled irregularly. This very soft opinion was made despite the destruction of documents in Pandeportes and a journalistic investigation of this newspaper verifying that the youth of the regions and other poor areas of the country did not receive their sports equipment. The investigations of the Public Ministry went further, discovering falsehoods in the alleged imports of the companies participating in the deal The only thing that can be inferred is that the Comptroller's Office wanted to be selective, mercifully lavishing protection for high-profile politicians of the past and of the current government. It is a pity that the welfare institutions of Panama have to go through humiliations and shortages, when others turn a blind eye to the robbery in Pandeportes. - LA PRENSA, Sep.26 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/turning-a-blind-eye-to-robber-politicians Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted December 28, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted December 28, 2019 Quote More charges in multi-million sports organization scam Mario Perez Posted 27/12/2019 The former director of the Panamanian Sports Institute ( Pandeportes ), Mario Pérez, was charged with embezzlement of the sports institution. At a hearing on Friday, December 27 along with César Tejada, driver of former Panamenista lawmaker Adolfo Beby Valderrama, and Ulrich Ronner, former director of the Panamanian Basketball Federation (Fepaba) Meanwhile the hearing of the case against ex-Deputy Valderrama, was rescheduled for January 3. Valderrama is associated with alleged irregularities in the handling of some $5 million managed during his term as deputy (2014-2019) and t were supposedly used for the purchase of sports equipment. Already charged are former Pandeportes director Roberto 'Bob' Arango; general manager of the National Baseball Federation (Fedebeis), Aníbal Reluz; the president of the Panamanian Basketball Federation (Fepaba), Jair Peralta, and the former PRD deputy, Jaime Pedrol . An investigation carried out by the newspaper La Prensa revealed a series of anomalies in the handling of funds provided by Pandeportes as subsidies for the realization of sports leagues. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/more-charges-in-multi-million-sports-organization-scam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 4, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted January 4, 2020 Quote Ex-deputy embezzlement hearing again suspended Posted 03/01/2020 Former Panmenista deputy Adolfo Beby Valderrama arrived for a hearing on Friday, January 2 for the alleged misappropriation of funds the Panamanian Sports Institute (Pandeportes). But, a judge decided to again suspend the case until January 7 to clarify whether it maintains an electoral criminal jurisdiction. The original hearing was suspended on December 27. Valderrama is linked to alleged irregularities in the handling of some $5 million managed during his term as a deputy that was supposedly used for the purchase of sports equipment. Valderrama said that after 10 years of service as a deputy, accountability "has always been my style" and I will not change it. " he said and added "He who does not owe it does not fear it," he reiterated. An investigation by r La Prensa revealed a series of anomalies in the handling of funds provided by Pandeportes as subsidies fo sports leagues. In this case charges have already been laid against former Pandeportes directors, Roberto Bob Arango and Mario Pérez; the general manager of the National Baseball Federation Aníbal Reluz, the president of the Panamanian Basketball Federation (Fepaba), Jair Peralta, and the former deputy of the Democratic Revolutionary Party Jaime Petrol . In addition, embezzlement and money laundering charges were filed against César Tejada, a former driver Valderrama, and Ulrich Ronner, secretary of Fepaba. The prosecution has made inspections in several sports federations and Pandeportes. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ex-deputy-embezzlement-hearing-again-suspended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 8, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted January 8, 2020 Quote Ex-legislator charged with. embezzlement. laundering Posted 07/01/2020 Former Panamenista legislator Adolfo Beby Valderrama was formally charged Tuesday, January with money laundering and embezzlement , to the detriment of Pandeportes. He will have to report on the 8th of each month while awaiting trial. " I will fight hard to defend the honor and dignity of my name, ”said Valderrama, at the conclusion of the hearing conducted by Judge Irene Cedeño, in the First Judicial District of Panama He denied having links with the investigated societies for having received funds from Pandeportes, although he does acknowledge that his collaborators in the National Assembly were favored with checks reports La Prensa. He denied that a supplier company of the Panamanian Basketball Federation (Fepaba) operated in offices rented by his Party. Valderrama recalled that it is the third time he has appeared at the hearing and said he will go as many times as he has to go to court. With Valderrama, there are already 10 people charged in this case, including former PRD deputy Jaime Pedrol and former Pandeportes directors, Roberto Arango and Mario Pérez, among others. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ex-legislator-charged-with-embezzlement-laundering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 11, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted January 11, 2020 Quote Money laundering defendant exits Panama Valderamma after court appearance Posted 10/01/2020 Three days after being charged with money laundering and embezzlement, former Panamenista deputy Beby Valderrama left the country "for work reasons”, raising the ire of ex-president Ricrdo Martinelli. Valderrama was ordered to report, on the 8th of each month with no impediment to leaving the country The ex-deputy, through his Twitter account, announced his trip, which he attributes to work reasons. He did not specify where he is going, for “security” reasons, but says that he will return in two weeks. An hour and a half before Valderrama announced his departure, former President Ricardo Martinelli - - posted a photo on Twitter of the former deputy at the airport. He complained that Valderrama can leave the country, while several members of Democratic Change (CD), who face legal proceedings, cannot. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/money-laundering-defendant-exits-panama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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