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Sexual Offense Case Against PRD Delegate Arquesio Arias


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This topic was split out from a higher level topic on the matter of the prosecution of sexual crimes. See http://www.chiriqui.life/topic/2734-human-trafficking-sexual-trafficking-sex-crimes-and-the-prosecution-thereof/

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Supreme Court accepts sexual offense case against lawmaker

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Dr Arquesio Arias,

Posted 08/08/2019

The plenary of the  Supreme Court  unanimously admitted on Thursday, August 8, a criminal complaint filed against PRD  Arquesio Arias, of the Guna Yala Region, for the alleged commission of the crime against the sexual freedom and integrity

Judge Olmedo Arrocha will act as prosecutor, and Judge Harry Diaz as guarantee judge.

Two complaints were filed against Arias; One of them was presented by a 22-year-old citizen, who says that the deputy, who is a doctor by profession, allegedly abused her when she had a Pap test during a medical consultation.

According to the file, the criminal complaint admitted was the one filed in the Public Prosecutor's Office in 2018 against Arias, before being elected and, before having acquired the prerogatives of a special procedure to be criminally prosecuted

"The Public Ministry, through the respective agency, referred the process for the knowledge of the Supreme Court of Justice, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code, "said a statement from the Judicial Branch.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/supreme-court-accepts-sexual-offense-case-against-lawmaker

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Prosecutor orders emotional support for alleged sex crime victims

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Deputy Arquesio Arias

Posted 08/10/2019

Supreme Court Judge  Olmedo Arrocha, acting as prosecutor in the trial of PRD  Deputy Arquesio Arias for alleged sexual crimes, will request that emotional support be provided to the victims.

The case reached the Court after July 1 when Arias, of the official Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), was elected deputy of the National Assembly by circuit 10-2 (Guna Yala District).

Before that date, the Municipal Personage of Guna Yala was in charge, but at that time they were two processes. One linked to the complaint filed by a 22-year-old girl, who says that Arias, who is a doctor by profession, allegedly abused her at the time of having a Pap test during a medical consultation. The other is alleged sexual abuse of a minor in circumstances similar to those of the 22-year-old

In court, the two cases were assigned to Arrocha, and his colleague Hernán De León. Both files were admitted by the plenary,  and on August 22 they were ordered accumulated into one. Arrocha was appointed prosecutor, while magistrate Harry Diaz was appointed judge of guarantees.

On September 20 the formal investigation began.  At the moment, data is still being collected and when there is sufficient evidence to support the accusation a hearing will  be requested, said the Judicial Branch. 

In a story published by La Prensa on July 7, Arquesio Arias said that, he worked as a doctor at the Ustupu Health Center, and that these cases are a “political” issue, product of the parties' primaries in 2018.

He insisted that it is a “dirty” campaign and that his legal team has proof that what he is trying to impute was not so. “I was working in that community [Ustupu] for two years. If something serious had happened, they would have taken me out of the community, but I finished my period, ”he said.

He said  that one of his opponents of the political campaign pushed the alleged case to get him out of the contest, but that the community authorities said that it was all about a "political attack."

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/prosecutor-orders-emotional-support-for-alleged-sex-crime-victims

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OPINION: Justice lessons not learned

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Urgency of alleged sexual crimes case m,isjudged

Posted 14/10/2019

A deputy of the National Assembly has serious denunciations for alleged highly denigrating and unworthy crimes.

Meanwhile, in the Supreme Court sits the case in the hands of a magistrate who, apparently, does not understand the urgency or the relevance of this.  In turn, a majority of the deputy's colleagues on his bench back him by stating that it is "political persecution."

Respecting the presumption of innocence of the deputy, we must also respect the image and dignity of an entire country and the human rights of the alleged victims, which both mattered in the case of the Ombudsman.

Two deputies from another party have already asked him in the plenary to voluntarily separate and attend to his case. Do the PRD gentlemen need four million Panamanians to ask for the same? The national repudiation against the witch payrolls, the ghost bats and other abuses of the deputies in the previous period inspired the  “no to re-election”, movement which defeated two-thirds of those who sought to return to the legislative body.

 A little over 100 days have passed, and we continue with the old practices. They learned nothing. -LA PRENSA, Oct. 14

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-justice-lessons-not-learned-1

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Prosecutor requests  hearing of deputy facing sex crime probe

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Olmedo Arrocha

Posted 14/10/2019

Supreme Court Justice Olmedo Arrocha, who is acting as prosecutor of PRD Deputy Arquesio Arias for alleged sexual crimes, has called for imputation hearing on Friday, October 18.

The announcement came as more allegations surfaced of offenses against teen-aged girls, members of a school basketball team and after President Laurenzo Cortizo has had suggested that in a similar position he would have stepped aside from his seat in the Assembly while the case was investigated. Moves by two CD Party  legislators to get Arias to stand down failed.

Arias, a doctor, has described the allegations as a political plot. The initial investigations by the Court were. for alleged sexual crimes against a minor, and a 22-year-old girl. 

The Judicial Branch reported that Judge Arrocha has also requested the holding of a precautionary measure hearing by the full plenary of the Court, who are competent to hear these requests, in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“A prosecuting  Magistrate can request any of the precautionary measures indicated in the Code. The only thing that we cannot ask for is the separation of the position of the deputy from the  Assembly “ said a judicial Tweet

At a Monday press conference Arias said that the two patients are sisters and relatives of a classmate who competed against him in the primary and He added that in the last week the case has taken a total turn, but despite this, he will not oppose the development of any investigation. "All this is affecting my family and the party. It is a local political conspiracy. It is a case to attack my party and my political career," Arias said repeatedly.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/prosecutor-requests-hearing-of-deputy-facing-sex-crime-probe

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System failure in"The other Panama” girls investigation

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In spite of hints from President Cortizo, Arias remains firmly glued to his sear

Posted 16/10/2019

Doctors and organizations that defend the rights of women and have joined the growing outcry against the refusal pf a PRD ruling party legislator to step down while being investigated for the alleged commission of crimes against sexual freedom when He was a doctor in Guna Yala .

The National Women's Council expressed its "repudiation" for the acts in which Arquesio Arias is named and Néstor Vega, representative of the doctors on the board of the Social Security Fund, believes that Arias should separate while under investigation.

Rossana Uribe , president of the Panamanian Association for Family Planning (Aplafa) , no person who is investigated for committing sexual abuse against a child should be on the street and less in the National Assembly.

She said that the government system or apparatus failed these girls and adolescents from the beginning because those who were called to proceed with the investigation in these cases – The  Ministry of Health (Minsa) and  Ministry of Education - somehow did not comply with what they should have done.

Arias is under investigation by the Supteme Court in a process that involves two complaints. The first has to do with a child under 16, and the second, with a young woman of 22. The event would have occurred in Ustupu, in 2018.

In addition, in 2012 teachers of the Simran Colman school in Ailigandí sent a note to the Minsa after the doctor also allegedly sexually abused three girls who were part of a basketball team.

In both cases the Regional Directorate of the Minsa in Guna Yala was silent, and Arias continued attending until June 2019, when he assumed his seat in the National Assembly.

“These Gunas girls were not heard or were ignored at the time. The system failed because they are the girls of the other Panama. The system, in general, failed them when the Minsa did not assume the investigation against Arias after receiving the warning notes [of] the teachers in 2012, ”Uribe said.

The National Women's Council said:"We call on the Panamanian population to repudiate these acts considering their seriousness since they threaten the dignity of women and human rights," said this gender equality advisory body.

Néstor Vega, a representative of doctors and nurses on the board of the Social Security Fund, said that if there is already an investigation of Arias in Court, he must be separated while checking whether he is innocent or guilty.

He said "there are  doctor codes" and when it comes to minors, one of those rules is that the child or young person cannot enter the office alone.

Several of Arias' alleged victims point out that the doctor asked their  parents to stay out of the office.

Claude de López, Professor of Ontology and Bioethics of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Panama, agreed with Vega that Arias should be separated from the position, both as a deputy and as a doctor, while concluding the Court  process.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/system-failure-inquotthe-other-panama-girls-investigation-1

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Lawmaker charged with rape and libidinous acts

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Arquesio Arias, center

Posted 18/10/2019

PRD legislator Arquesio  Arias who is a doctor  appeared at a Supreme Court hearing  behind closed doors on Friday, October 18 and was charged with carnal rape and libidinous acts

The complainant requested that hearing be carried in camera with only the intervening parties present in the courtroom because sensitive issues involving minors would be aired.

Neither Judge Olmedo Arrocha, the prosecutor of the case, nor the defense of Deputy Arias opposed the petition. Judge Arrocha requested a hearing of precautionary measures by the Supreme Court Plenary.

The hearing will be Monday at 2:00 pm, the purpose of which is to apply precautionary measures to the deputy.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmaker-charged-with-rape-and-libidinous-acts

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Calls for ouster of  alleged sexual abuse deputy

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Posted 18/10/2019

While the imputation hearing involving alleged sexual offenses by PRD  Deputy  Arqueli Arias was underway in the Supreme  Court on Friday,  dozens of young people including members of the Guna Yala community, protested,  in the grounds of the National Assembly calling for his separation from office. He has been charged with rape and libiidinous acts.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/calls-for-ouster-of-alleged-sexual-abuse-deputy

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Legislator accused of sex crimes under house arrest

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Posted 22/10/2019

LEGISLATOR  Arquesio charged with the alleged commission of crimes against integrity and sexual freedom when he was a doctor in Ustupu, Guna Yala region  must stay at home and is prohibited  from leaving the country  without a court order  and must surrender  his diplomatic and personal passports said a  ruling of the Supreme Court   plenary  after eight  hours of deliberation that ended at midnight on Monday, August 21.

A few minutes later, another 10-minute break was decreed. At 12.27 am, the decision was known, which had a salvage vote by Judge José Ayú Prado and an explanatory vote by Judge Jerónimo Mejía. 

Judicial sources said that the defense of Arias, the lawyer  Ángel Álvarez, requested that a precautionary measure to prevent him from leaving the country be imposed on his client so that Arias could “continue fulfilling his responsibilities”. While the prosecuting magistrate,  Olmedo Arrocha, filed a request for house arrest considering that it is the relevant measure in this case, given the possibility of destruction of evidence and to prevent the deputy from being absent from the process.

The complainant lawyer Eneida Barría had requested provisional detention for the deputy.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/legislator-accused-of-sex-crimes-under-house-arrest

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Lawmaker under house arrest will still be paid

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Posted 23/10/2019

The Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), deputy  Arquesio Arias, will continue to collect his salary even though he will not be attending the National Assembly while under house arrest accused of sexual crimes.

not attend the Assembly for having a precautionary measure of house arrest.

According to The Secretary-General of the l Assembly of Deputies, Quibián Panay they only received from the Supreme Court the notification of the precautionary measures to the deputy and it at no time refers to the suspension of the salary.

At midnight on Tuesday, October 22, the Plenary of the Supreme Court ruled that Arias should remain at home and deliver his diplomatic and personal passports, as a precautionary measure, while facing charges of alleged carnal rape and libidinous acts.

He is also banned from leaving the country without a court order.

Complaints against Arias arise from events allegedly recorded in 2018, when he worked as a doctor at the Ustupu health center.

The deputy has defended himself in the media, claiming that everything is a political plot against him and that he will not abandon his seat.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmaker-under-house-arrest-will-still-be-paid

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Comptroller nixes salary for lawmaker under house arrest

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Posted 25/10/2019

PRD lawmaker deputy Arquesio Arias accused of the alleged commission of crimes against sexual freedom will not continue to receive his salary while under house arrest says The  Comptroller  General who has notified the National Assembly of the suspension of the payment.

Arias has been under f house arrest since Monday, October 21  and, by orders of the Supreme Court, agents of the National Police are commissioned to verify strict compliance with the measure.

The Comptroller said that "he will only be paid until the date Court issued the house arrest measure."

Deputy Arias, who has repeatedly denied having abused two women in the Guna Yala region when he was a doctor, also had his two passports removed: the diplomatic and the regular.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/comptroller-nixes-salary-for-lawmaker-under-house-arrest

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Sexual abuse case against Dr  lawmaker behind closed doors

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Posted 04/12/2019

PRD Deputy Arquesio Arias, under investigation by the Supreme for the alleged carnal rape and libidinous acts to the detriment of two women, one of them a minor, will face a test validation hearing requested by the magistrate Thursday. At the hearing, which will be behind closed doors, a series of elements compiled by Arrocha will be validated before the magistrate judge of guarantees in proceedings carried out by his office.

On October 19, Arrocha traveled to the community of Ustupu, in the Guna Yala region, where he interviewed residents about the activities developed by Arias when he worked as a doctor. In addition, he talked with relatives of the alleged victims and local authorities.

Arias maintains is under house arrest imposed by the full plenary of the Court on October 21. As a security measure, the deputy was ordered to deliver his personal passport and diplomatic passports.

Arias is investigated for two complaints. The first is with a child under 16, and the second, with a young woman of 22. The events would have occurred in Ustupu, in 2018.

The defense, says that there is no evidence that links his client with the alleged wrongdoing., Arias has said that the accusations against him have political motives.

Complaints against Arias were filed in 2018. They were transferred to the Supreme Court when he was elected Deputy

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/sexual-abuse-case-against-dr-lawmaker-behind-closed-doors

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Lawmaker rape hearing rescheduled

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Posted 06/12/2019

The control hearing scheduled for Thursday, December 5 for  PRD deputy Arquesio Arias was suspended because of health reasons of the judge of guarantees, Harry Diaz, judicial sources reported.

Deputy Arias is being investigated in the Supreme Court for the alleged carnal rape and libidinous acts to the detriment of two young women, one of them a minor.

The hearing, which had been requested by the magistrate Olmedo Arrocha , was rescheduled for Thursday, December 12.

Arias remains under house arrest, a decision that was imposed by the full plenary of the Court on October 21.

As a security measure, the deputy was ordered to surrender his personal and diplomatic passports.

The Comptroller General has suspended his pay while he remains under house arrest.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmaker-rape-hearing-rescheduled

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Judge validates evidence in lawmaker sex-crimes probe

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Posted 12/12/2019

Judge Harry Díaz, judge of guarantees of the case against  PRD lawmaker  Arquesio Arias for the alleged crimes of carnal rape and libidinous acts, validated a series of digital and documentary evidence presented by the prosecutor of the case   Judge Olmedo Arrocha .

In a  closed doors hearing, because a minor is involved,  on Thursday, December 12, Díaz endorsed material seized in the cell phones of the victims and Arias. He also decided to accept as evidence the testimonies collected on a tour to, in the Guna Yala region, on  October 19.

Dr Arquesio Arias , is investigated by the Supreme Court for the alleged violation of two women, one of them a minor.

On October 22, the plenary of the Court decided that Arias should remain under house arrest  and deliver his diplomatic and personal passports, while the process continues.

Complaints against Arias arise from events allegedly recorded in 2018, when the deputy of circuit 10-2 worked as a doctor at the Ustupu health center.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/judge-validates-evidence-in-lawmaker-sex-crimes-probe-1

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New sexual complaint against Deputy

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Posted 13/12/2019

Just a day after a court validated evidence in a sex crimes investigation of Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) Deputy, Arquesio Arias, a new criminal complaint for the alleged commission of the crime against freedom and sexual integrity. was lodged in the Supreme Court.

The legal action was carried out by lawyer Gina Tatiana Medina Vásquez  on Friday,  December 13

The new complaint is in the hands of magistrate Luis Ramón Fábrega who must examine it and determine if it meets all the requirements and then present it to the Plenary Session of the Court

The magistrates in the Plenary, who decide if they accept it or reject it. There is also the possibility that it may be annexed with the other complaints and for which Arias has a precautionary measure of house arrest.

The deputy was charged with the crimes of carnal rape and libidinous acts. On Thursday, December 12, Judge Harry Díaz , acting as a Judge of Guarantees, legalized the seizure of data presented by the magistrate, Olmedo Arrocha.

At the hearing, evidence seized on the cell phones of the victims and Deputy Arias was legalized. In addition, the testimonies collected on a tour to Ustupu, by Judge Arrocha, on October 19 were accepted.

This hearing was held in camera, in response to the Convention of the Child, when there is a minor involved, for crimes against modesty.

Complaints against Arias arise from events allegedly recorded in 2018, when he worked as a doctor at the Ustupu health center.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-sexual-complaint-against-deputy

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Imputan cargos por la supuesta comisión de delitos sexuales contra diputado Arquesio Arias

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Ariel Ríos

La magistrada juez de garantías negó esta tarde el desestimiento presentado por la abogada Alma Cortez, sobre la segunda denuncia por la supuesta comisión de delitos sexuales contra el diputado Arquesio Arias, por lo que se le realizó la imputación de cargos contra este.

 

Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article.

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Charges for the alleged commission of sexual crimes against Deputy Arquesio Arias

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Ariel Ríos • 26 Aug 2020 - 08:15 PM

The magistrate judge of guarantees denied this afternoon the dismissal presented by the lawyer Alma Cortez, on the second complaint for the alleged commission of sexual crimes against the deputy Arquesio Arias, for which he was charged with charges against him.

 

https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/2020/08/27/imputan-cargos-por-la-supuesta-comision-de-delitos-sexuales-contra-diputado-arquesio-arias/3171294.html

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Lawmaker faces  second sexual  crime charge

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Posted 26/08/2020

Guarantees Judge Maribel Cornejo accepted on Wednesday, August 26, the request to impute charges to the doctor and PRD deputy, Arquesio Arias, for the alleged commission of sexual crimes against a minor, when he worked as a doctor in the region Guna Yala.

She denied the withdrawal of the complaint filed by the alleged victim.

During the hearing in the Supreme Court Cassation Chamber, Judge Olmedo Arrocha filed charges against Arquesio, in a second complaint of alleged sexual crimes.

Arias, was charged with the first complaint, alleged sexual abuse, and libidinous acts on October 18, 2019. He has been under house arrest and has been absent from The National Assembly.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmaker-faces-second-sexual-crime-charge

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Lawmaker’s Covid delayed sexual crime hearing resumes

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Posted 30/10/2020

The accusation hearing against the PRD lawmaker Arquesio Arias, for the alleged commission of sexual crimes, was resumed  in a  Supreme Court  closed hearing Friday, October 30

The intermediate phase hearing, which is related to the first of the two processes being followed by the deputy of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, for the alleged commission of sexual crimes against a minor, was suspended on October 9.

The Supreme Court magistrate, Olmedo Arrocha, acts as a prosecutor and the magistrate Maribel Cornejo Batista, as a guarantee judge.

The first hearing began on September 11, and continued on October 9, and should have been resumed on October 14, but was suspended because one of the officials from the office of judge  Arrocha, tested positive for Covid-19.

Arias, has had the precautionary measure of house arrest since October 22, and his alternate Martelo Robinson was enabled to occupy his seat in the National Assembly.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmakers-covid-delayed-sexual-crime-hearing-resumes

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Lawmaker’s sex-crimes trial rescheduled.

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Posted 18/03/2021

The oral trial of PRD Deputy  Arquesio Arias, for alleged sexual abuse against two women, one of them a minor, that was set for  Thursday, was rescheduled for the next April 7, 8, and 9.

The change of date was at the request of the parties, taking into account the principle of "concentration and continuity."

This when considering that the parties, the prosecutor Olmedo Arrocha and the defense of the deputy Arias, Ángel Álvarez, considered that starting on a Thursday, the principle of "concentration and continuity" could be affected.

The Trial Court is made up of the nine magistrates of the Supreme Court who have the power to investigate and judge in processes against deputies of the National Assembly.

Arias has been under house arrest e since October 21, 2019, ordered by the Plenary of the Court.

The case for which the pro-government deputy is being prosecuted is based on alleged libidinous acts that occurred during 2018, in the district of Ustupo, in the Guna Yala region, when he was working as a doctor in the community health center.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmakers-sex-crimes-trial-rescheduled

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Lawmaker sex crimes trial will continue Saturday

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Posted 09/04/2021

The plenary session of the Supreme Court decided on  Friday, April 9, to continue on Saturday with the oral trial of deputy Arquesio Arias, for the alleged commission of crimes against freedom and integrity sexual detriment to two women.

The decision was made after the parties requested a recess on the third day of the hearing. It was at 2:50 pm that the trial was suspended, and it is expected to resume at 9:30 am on April 10.

During Friday's session, which started at 9:40 am, o documentary evidence was presented to the Trial Court.

The prosecuting magistrate, Olmedo Arrocha, on the first day - April 7, 2021 - presented five pieces of evidence: two were testimonial and three expert witnesses. On  Thursday, Arrocha presented six pieces of evidence: one expert and five testimonials.

It was reported that about 50 witnesses will appear for the trial.

The deputy of the Democratic Revolutionary Party has been under house arrest since October 2019.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmaker-sex-crimes-trial-will-continue-saturday

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Sex crimes trial under wraps

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Posted 09/04/2021

ONE OF THE most discredited institutions is, as a whole, the Judicial Branch. The reasons are not necessary to state, only that every day the Panamanian justice is more and more inoperative and, as a consequence, it lacks credibility. For this reason, it is inexplicable that the trial that is being followed in the Supreme Court of Justice of Deputy Arquesio Arias - belonging to the ruling party PRD - for sexual crimes is behind closed doors. Although there are health measures that must be followed or even those to avoid re-victimizing those affected by these crimes, partial coverage of the act may be allowed, in order to avoid the justified suspicions that arise in the trial of a member of the ruling party who Furthermore, he is a deputy of the Republic. We know perfectly well what is the scope of the protective mantle of this political group, which does not beat around the bush to facilitate impunity for its militants and authorities. And if this is not the case, it is a terrible error of judgment to close the doors to public opinion in a trial of such transcendence. The Court must reconsider its decision to hold this trial behind the country's back. From every point of view, it does more harm than good. –  LA PRENSA, Apr. 9

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/sex-crimes-trial-under-wraps

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Lawmaker sex crimes trial enters 6th day

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Posted 13/04/2021

Monday was the fifth day of the oral trial for the alleged crime of sexual abuse against two women, one of them a minor, faced by the deputy of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) Arquesio Arias. The plenary session of the Supreme Court acting as the Trial Court, met on Saturday until 7:30 pm, and it was the responsibility of the magistrate (prosecutor), Olmedo Arrocha Osorio, to continue with the presentation of the evidence, which consisted of five testimonials, one expert and five documentaries. The trial was resumed on Monday with security measures inside and outside the Court.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmaker-sex-crimes-trial-enters-6th-day

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PRD Deputy declared ‘not guilty' of sex crimes

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Posted 17/04/2021

After 8 hours of deliberation the plenary session of the Supreme Court at 11.30 pm on Friday, April  16, declared PRD  deputy Arquesio Arias not guilty of the crime of aggravated rape and aggravated libidinous acts against two women, one of them a minor.

For the crime of aggravated libidinous acts, after three votes, the Oral Trial Court did not reach a qualified majority vote (two-thirds), to decide the guilt or not of the deputy, and therefore he was not convicted. 

“The decision of the Highest Court was based on the fact that, during the development of the oral trial, it was not possible to prove the commission of the crime of libidinous acts under any modality and neither was the crime of rape in its aggravated modality proven, due to the serious inconsistencies ”, said a court press release.

The deliberation by the Oral Trial Court began on Friday, April 16, at 2:50 pm, after the intervening parties finished the closing arguments, after 8 days of the Oral Trial.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/prd-deputy-declared-not-guiltyamp039-of-sex-crimes-1

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Protestors label judges "accomplices"

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Posted 17/04/2021

Protesters  gathered in front of the Supreme Court)  on  Saturday in opposition to the ruling that declared the deputy of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Arquesio Arias, not guilty of charges of sexual abuse against two women.  A large banner, carrying  photographs of  the magistrates who   ruled in favor of the acquittal, labeled them “accomplices.” On the same poster, there was another message that read " Arquesio Violator ".

The Plenary of the Supreme Court of Justice, acting as the Oral Trial Court, declared Deputy Arquesio Arias not guilty for crimes against sexual freedom and integrity , after 8 hours of a deliberation, which concluded on Friday night April 16.

Arias, was accused of committing sexual crimes against two women, when he worked as a doctor at the Ustupu health center, in the Guna Yala region, in 2018.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/protestors-label-judges-accomplices

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The shame of sex crimes acquittal

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Women protest outside Supreme Court.

Posted 18/04/2021

The disappointment could not have been more felt when it was learned of the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice that acquitted of sexual crimes against women, including a minor, a deputy of the ruling party, the PRD. There was a hope, albeit small, of knowing the truth, that justice would be done, but there is no reason to have it. Inappropriate and lustful sexual acts or rape cause a lot of pain and shame to victims, and thus, in many cases, predators are successful, taking advantage of such circumstances. But in this case, there were victims who gathered the courage to sue a member of the most powerful party in the country, in the hope of receiving justice. It was not so. The victims, ashamed, left the audience bathed in tears, frustrated, disenchanted with the perverse justice system we have, while the deputy smiled, pleased. Now we will see this subject in the National Assembly voting to approve legislative initiatives aimed at children, women, and the family, on matters in which he has lost all morals to do so. That is the DNA of the deputies. – LA PRENSA, Apl. 18

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/the-shame-of-sex-crimes-acquittal

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Professionals demand suspension of doctor acquitted of sex crimes

Posted 19/04/2021

The Federation of Professional Associations of Panama (Fedap) - made up of the country's unions, colleges, and professional associations - filed a complaint with the Technical Health Council against Arquesio Arias on Monday, April 19, requesting the suspension of the suitability of doctor and professional of the PRD deputy.

In the opinion of the Fedap, Arias committed “acts that we consider immoral, in the exercise of his profession as a doctor, with a qualification in the Technical Health Council, which seriously damages the exercise of the profession and the Panamanian citizens who have suffered the same, as well as all the women of the country, for which the citizens have expressed their indignation, repudiation, demanding justice ”.

After eight hours of deliberations, at the stroke of midnight on Friday, April 16, a trial court made up of the full magistrates of the  Supreme Court declared the PRD deputy "not guilty" of sexual crimes against two women, one of them a minor.

"This ruling where the majority, that is, five magistrates out of nine, decide that there are libidinal acts, committed by the ideal medical professional Arquesio Arias and, of course, the content of the ruling itself shows that he committed these libidinous acts, only that, due to a privilege for the deputies since six votes of the magistrates are required, he was not criminally convicted ”, details the brief presented before the Technical Health Council, which has among its functions the control of the practice of the medical professions.

Fedap argued that the decision adopted by the Supreme Court does not prevent the Technical Health Council from being able, at an administrative level, to sanction Arias for acts against morality, because it has full competence to do so.

During the trial, which began on April 7, 80 tests were taken, including testimonials, expert witnesses, documentaries, and materials. The prosecutor was Magistrate Olmedo Arrocha.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/professionals-demand-suspension-of-doctor-acquitted-of-sex-crimes

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