The director of the Penitentiary System, Diomedes Kaa, said the National Sports Institute (Pandeportes) will give the opportunity for inmates to participate in the repair of sports grounds, in a program similar to the one managed by the Ministry of Education. Kaa said inmates must meet certain requirements, including having served two-thirds of their sentence. When asked about the new perimeter fence at the La Joya prison, he said in the coming days it should be 100% operational, upon completion of training. He also confirmed approval has been granted for the construction of a new prison and that soon they would be accepting bids so that hopefully by August they would have a firm plan for the construction of this new facility, which will house about 5,500 inmates. (Source: La Critica)

Editor's Comment: The inmates love these kinds of programs. It gives them the opportunity to get out of the prison for awhile, and only inmates on good behavior with no record of problems while incarcerated are selected to participate. The biggest enemy in a Panamanian prison is boredom, at least for those inmates who are locked up with other non-violent offenders. Anyone who criticizes this program has probably never set foot inside of La Joya. The inmates there would do anything to be able to get out for a day for a change of scenery and some fresh air - even if that includes having to do things like cutting the grass, painting a backboard, or what have you. And besides, you get to see chicks on the street from the bus...    

The director of the Direction of Judicial Investigation, Javier Carrillo, said about 900 firearms were reported as lost or stolen in 2009. Carrillo was concerned, because these weapons are being used by criminals to commit crime. He called on judicial authorities to be more forceful with cases in which the use of a stolen firearm is detected. (Source - La Critica)   

No one is safe! Colon businessman kidnapped in broad daylight. At around 10:00 am yesterday morning police discovered a red Mini Cooper with license plate number 857228 abandoned near the corner of 15th Street with Central Ave in the city of Colon. Witnesses told authorities that, moments before, the driver of the car was forced out of this vehicle at gunpoint and forced into another vehicle. This occurred near the entrance to the city of Colon in front of the Plaza Millennium shopping center. The driver of the Mini Cooper is a businessman of Lebanese origin. Normally well-informed sources said he was kidnapped, and the criminals quickly made contact the businessman's family members. They said the kidnappers demanded a payment of $100,000 dollars for his safe release, which was delivered. But instead of releasing him they demanded an additional $150,000 dollars, which the family members paid and the victim was released. The National Police said yesterday afternoon the case was registered as a possible car theft, but they also admitted they did not know the whereabouts of the driver of the car. The National Police never confirmed if the businessman ever appeared. (Source - El Siglo)   

While Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said yesterday that he would give his full support to the Director of the National Police, Gustavo Pérez de la Ossa, Panama's Attorney General, Giuseppe Bonissi, said it was premature to open an investigation. Both statements came after a classified report from the National Police, dated 22 March 1990, revealed Pérez de la Ossa was discharged for "affect the prestige of the police" for having kidnapped US citizens during the invasion of Panama, Operating Just Cause. Martinelli only said - via email - that he "trusts fully in the work of Pérez de la Ossa because he is doing an excellent job," as are the other members of the National Police. Meanwhile, Bonissi said that once he receives the documentation in this case it would fall to a prosecutor to investigate. "It will be necessary to clarify the information, and therefore, we should verify the factors that occurred many years ago and evacuate them according to law," he said. Perez de la Ossa also received the support of the Minister of the Presidency, Papadimitriu Demetrius, who said "there will be no changes in the National Police." Complaint: Meanwhile, a group of lawyers, including the former Chief of the now defunct Judicial Technical Police (PTJ), Jaime Abad, said they would file a complaint before the Attorney General asking for clarification of the incident through a thorough investigation. Abad said the incident has to do with the possible commission of an "aggravated felony" because it infringed the physical safety of human beings who had no involvement in the armed conflict, in violation of the Geneva Convention. Abad cited Article 1992 of the Judicial Code which reads: "When an agent of the Public Ministry becomes aware, by any means, that in the Territory where he exercises his functions that a crime has been committed, he should immediately initiate the respective preliminary investigation ...". For his part, the former President of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives, Enrique De Obarrio, supported the statements of former Vice President, Guillermo Ford, who said this is a "very serious" issue. However, he said it would be necessary to hear the version of the Director of the National Police director, once he returns to the country, to clarify what happened. (Source: Panama America)

Editor's Comment: We knew full well, in early December 1989 when preparing for Operation Just Cause, that a primary element of Noriega's resistance plan revolved around kidnapping US civilians and holding them as hostages. Much of the US strategy and planning went into reducing or eliminating opportunities for Noriega's forces to actually kidnap anyone. Many family members, children, civilians, and other non-combatants were evacuated prior to the start of hostilities. On 20 December 1989, Gustavo Pérez de la Ossa was a Lieutenant in the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) and was the second in command of the Unidad Especial Antiterror (UESAT). According to reports now circulating around the Panamanian media, Lt. Pérez de la Ossa supposedly participated in an operation in which US citizens were kidnapped from the Marriott hotel, taken to another location where they were held a gunpoint. A superior officer ordered them to shoot the hostages and then left before they were actually shot. Thankfully, they were able to talk their way out of it and the hostages were not killed. This same unit, the UESAT, was involved in another similar incident which did result in the execution of two US citizens.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just got a tip that an American woman named Denise Hiller was reportedly found dead in her apartment located in the "Torre del Parque" building in Paitilla. Initial reports indicate her body had signs of blows and bruises, as if she had been hit repeatedly. Apparently now the police and investigators from the Public Ministry are on the scene to recover the body and initiate their investigations. More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available. Apparently Denise Hiller moved to Panama about three years ago. If anyone knows Denise Hiller personally please contact me at cell 6614-0451 or email don@panama-guide.com. Thanks.

Update 3:39 PM: Apparently the victim's name is Denise Mullen Hiller and according to her Facebook page she recently spent some time on Isla Grande in January 2010. However, I have not yet confirmed that this is the same person who was killed in Panama. This is a breaking story so it's still fluid at this point in time. Stay with me...

Update 4:10 pm: Identity Confirmed. I just spoke to a family member, and they confirmed this is the same Denise Mullen Hiller. Apparently she was found "beaten to death" in her apartment in Paitilla. Denise was here in Panama working on a project.

Update 4:24 pm: Time of Discovery - according to one of my regular and normally very reliable sources, the body of Denise Mullen Hiller was discovered in her apartment at approximately 10:30 am this morning, Friday, 19 February 2010.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Designers, musicians and small business owners are demanding payment for services provided during the 2010 Carnival celebrations in Panama City. Some say when they went to the bank to cash the checks there were given as payment, the checks bounced. Many say they were cheated by Carlos Arias. (Source: Telemetro Reporta)   

Panama's Deputy Minister of Government and Justice, Jorge Ricardo Fabrega, said this morning on the Channel 13 Telemetro news program, that the government will spend more than $100 million dollars to rebuild the nation's prison system. Fabrega said "this money will be spent on building prisons and not just making patches, like the installations in Monte Esperanza in Colon," which was originally a laundry, he said. The Deputy Minister said that in the coming years there will be a change in the overall way in which the long standing problem of the prison system in the country is addressed. (Source: La Estrella)   

A lifeless body was found dismembered in the district of La Chorrera, in the area of El Espino, abandoned in a pasture, according to RPC Radio. The victim may be a man named Edwin Cortez, who according to a statement of women last saw him on 30 December 2009 when he went with a friend named "Jean" to the area of Curundú. The discovery of the body occurred after a dog dragged a human hand back to the house, an event which prompted authorities to search for the corpse. Authorities are waiting for the results of DNA testing and an autopsy to confirm the identification of the body. (Source: La Critica)   

Luis Alberto Arboleda Dutary was detained by Traffic officers of the National Police while driving a red Hyundai with registration number 503804 at the entrance to La Lajas de Chame. The police officers used the new system which allows them to check in real time to see if a person has any outstanding wants or warrants using the person's driver's license. This system indicated Arboleda Dutary had a pending arrest order, number 699 of the Fourth Criminal Court, dated 11 June 2003. He also had an additional arrest warrant pending, number 6826 from the Third Circuit Prosecutor's Office of Panama, dated 22 October 2007. Finally, this person was turned over to the proper judicial authorities for processing. (Source: La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: I hope they keep good records on how many people are arrested thanks to this new system. Maybe they will see the benefit and keep it maintained and working. Normally, new systems like this get tossed as soon as the first set of batteries die.   

Murder and robbery at sea. Yesterday morning Lisandro López made it to shore near El Embarcadero in Juan Díaz after having spent hours keeping himself afloat, as the only survivor of three who were robbed at gunpoint aboard a fishing boat named "El Sol." Upon reaching land, Lisandro told the inhabitants of El Embarcadero what had happened and he asked them to call the police. On Tuesday night, near Paitilla, the three fishermen were aboard "El Sol" when they were surprised by another boat with three aboard who took the fish they had caught and their boat. "We came upon three men in a boat and they asked us if we could give them fuel, but we refused to give them help," he said. He added that suddenly they were threatened with a weapon and ordered to jump into the water, so he jumped into the water and swam. Soon he came upon Captain Ángel Ceferino García, with whom he swam for awhile, but later he got a cramp and sank. "I heard some shots and do not know what happened to the other man," said Lopez. Following these statements, the National Police and SINAPROC conducted a search but did not find the other two bodies. When Lisandro made it to shore he asked the people in the area to give him food because he was exhausted. (Source: Dia a Dia)   

SPI Corporal Joel Javier Guzmán and his brother Benjamín Guzmán, both Panamanians who are suspects in the alleged plot against President Ricardo Martinelli, were transferred to the La Joya prison. The Guzmán brothers and Puerto Rican Isaac Polanco have been charged with attempted kidnapping. It was learned that the Puerto Rican made himself out to be an informant to members of the Security Council and tried to charge the sum of $2,000 for information related to a supposed kidnapping attempt. Both the SPI Corporal and his brother have denied their participation in the plot. (Source: La Critica)   

The son of the representative of San Felipe, Mario Kennedy, is again involved a criminal act. A group of foreigners who were in Panama filming a documentary were the victims of a robbery and they accuse Kennedy of a second robbery. According to the version of the tourists, Kennedy offered them help you recover their items which had been stolen (laptop computers and recording equipment) with the condition that they pay him $150 dollars for each object. The victims gave $400 dollars to Kennedy who disappeared with the money. By continuing to investigate, the tourists discovered that the person who robbed them was the son of the Representative of San Felipe, because they had taken pictures of him. One of the foreigners said Kennedy even threatened to kill him in front of several police officers, who took no action. The group of tourists are in the country filming a documentary "Chupacabra Hunters". (Source: Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: Exactly how stupid to you have to be in order to hand over $400 bucks to some dude on the street in order to supposedly get your laptop computer back? Man, gringo tourists are friggin' stupid... Oh, and the son of the Representative of San Felipe is a friggin' crook. He'll probably grow up to make a great politician. Just like his dad.   

Victor Manuel Soto was the name of one of the Fuerzas Armadas de Colombia (FARC) guerrillas who died last week in the Darién province in a firefight with officers of Panama's Sistema Nacional de Frontera (Border Police). The Institute of Legal Medicine will maintain custody of the bodies until they have been identified, according its Director Humberto Mas. Soto was identified because he was carrying documents, however the other two rebels who were killed in the clash remain unidentified. Both of the men are black and are between 30 to 35 years of age. Humberto Mas reported they will make a dental profile and take their fingerprints in an attempt to identify the men. He said the bodies may not be turned over to anyone without first having been identified. (Source: Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: After the clash, the officers on the scene buried the three men in the same area where they were killed. Government officials quickly returned to the site and dug them up as part of the investigation to accurately ascertain the identities of the men.   

Alfonso "Hurricane" Mosquera, a recognized Panamanian boxer, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for killing his wife, Luz Torres Moreno. Mosquera spent several days a fugitive from justice after the death of his wife in August 2008. He subsequently turned himself in and spent four months in prison, where he must return to serve his sentence. The Fourth Circuit Criminal Court conviction also disqualifies the athlete from holding public office for the same time period. (Source: Telemetro Reporta)

Editor's Comment: Forty months? That's it? This guy literally beats his wife to death in a rage and he gets just forty months? Since he was detained for four months when originally arrested, that time served counts against his sentence, so therefore he will do just three additional years in prison for murder. And government officials want to know why there's an increase in violent crime in Panama? This animal should never be let out of his cage.   

President Ricardo Martinelli today will ask the owners of the various television channels in Panama to regulate their news broadcasts, as announced in a press conference held during the official graduation ceremony at the Police Academy, denying that this constitutes censorship of the media. Martinelli recalled that in the past a system of self-regulation had been adopted, however he said this has been forgotten by the owners of television media in search of "ratings." "There can be a one-hour newscast and of that time 40 minutes is devoted to crime, burglaries, robberies and murders," he said. "If you journalists don't cover violent crime, you are in trouble," he added. He also referred to soap operas in which they only talk about negative things, which is why he repeated that we cannot be in the hands of the mafia because there are also good things happening in the country. In this sense, he questioned the soap operas that are broadcast all day long, because all of them are damaging the Panamanian society and in a broader sense, the country. These soap operas "promote things which are not good," he said. "These soap operas should be shown late at night," and stated it is possible to damage the values of the population with programs that only show robbery, drug trafficking, and crime. Martinelli said during the ceremony that if there is a failure to reach a agreement with the owners of national television stations, the issue will be left to the National Assembly to be regulated by law. Last Friday, on 22 January 2010, the president lashed out against the television media. He thinks businessmen do not want to invest in Panama due to the violence reflected on the news. (Source: YURETH PAREDES for La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: Obviously, Martinelli is way out in left field on this one. In 2009 there were three murders (executions) per day in Panama. No amount of ignoring or failure to report on the increases in violent crime in Panama is going to change that. If Martinelli wants to see less reporting of violent crime on television, then maybe he should get busy and do something to stop the damn crime! This is really a ridiculous discussion, and I really have no idea why he's going down this road. I mean, it's literally blaming the messenger, even more ironic coming from the one man who can do something about it. Want some positive headlines? Declare martial law. Arrest all of the friggin' murderers. Search for and confiscate all of the illegal weapons. Arrest and prosecute all of the killers, thieves, crooks, and criminals. Christ, man, you just let a whole bunch of them go because the prisons were full. Build some more prisons, now. The National Police work for the President. Shut it down... Stop whining about the negative press and get busy.   

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by former Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega returned to Panama, his lawyer Julio Berrio, said the decision raises the possibility of asking the US Secretary of State to return him to Panama. The lawyer says the ultimate decision to extradite Noriega to France will be made the the Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. According to Berrio one of the points in Noriega's favor is that he is about to turn 75 years-old. The Extradition Treaty establishes that human rights must prevail. (Source: Panama America)

Editor's Comment: For me, this is a no-brainer. Simply ask Manuel Antonio Noriega what he wants to do, and then do the other thing. Like, he wants to come back to Panama, therefore he should be sent to France. Since he's about to turn 75, and they are going to find him guilty (again) and sentence him to another 10 years for drug trafficking and money laundering, that means he will probably die in a French prison cell. If it were anyone other than Hillary Clinton making this decision I would not have a concern in the world. But with her as the Secretary of State, literally anything is possible. Anyway, at least the US court system has finally cleared all obstacles for Noriega's extradition to France.    

He was found near the entrance of the road leading to the Miraflores Locks. A police patrol that was passing down Avenida Omar Torrijos, in the district of Ancon, near the entrance of the Miraflores Locks, found a body by the side of the road. It was 40 year-old Juan Pablo Perez Osorio, of Colombian nationality. The body bore signs of having been tortured, had a bullet hole in the head, and there were tire marks on the body. (Source: La Critica)

Editor's Comment: Question - Is Panama getting more or less violent? Another report said this body had injuries consistent with someone who had been dragged by a car for a long time. Let's see, 600 kilos of cocaine busted yesterday afternoon, body by the side of the road last night. Connection? Last year Panamanian authorities busted a total of about 53 tons of cocaine, which translates to about 48,080 kilos total. Also in 2009 there were an average of three assassinations per day for a total of about 1,000 dead. The vast majority of those killed were in some way connected to the drug trafficking. Therefore, in doing the simple math, every 48 kilos seized results in one dead body. You can expect another 11.5 dead guys thanks to the 600 kilo bust from yesterday. I would suspect that if you went back and did this same simple math calculation for years gone by, you would find that 2009 was the most violent to date, in terms of murders per kilo of cocaine busted in Panama. There's a simple explanation for why this is occurring. The Mexicans have taken over responsibility for moving much of the cocaine from Panama to the United States, and they basically place even less value on life than the Colombians. You gotta wonder though - if they keep killing everyone who's involved, at what point do you run out of dudes to do the work?   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Yesterday afternoon I started getting telephone calls from Panamanian reporters who were trying to confirm if Isaac Polanco, the 27 year-old Puerto Rican who was arrested on Sunday in relation to his alleged involvement in a plot to kidnap President Ricardo Martinelli, is the same guy who walked away from a jail in Idaho.

• Inmate Walks Away from the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center, Nov. 5, 2008 - BOISE – An Idaho Department of Correction inmate walked away from the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center in Burley while on a work detail. Isaac Polanco, IDOC #85250, was sweeping the jail’s front office when he walked out the front door and disappeared at 1:16 a.m. Polanco was serving time for robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of burglary, malicious injury to property and grand theft by possession. His next parole hearing was set for April of 2013. All of the convictions were for crimes in Cassia County.
  
  
• Sheriff's Deputies Catch Jail Walkaway, Nov. 6, 2008 - BOISE – An inmate who walked away from the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center in Burley while on a work detail is back in custody. Isaac Polanco, IDOC #85250, was sweeping the jail’s front office when he walked out the front door and disappeared at 1:16 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies found him eating lunch at a restaurant about seven blocks from the jail about 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday). Polanco was with another person who will also likely be charged in aiding Polanco’s escape. Polanco was serving time for robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of burglary, malicious injury to property and grand theft by possession. His next parole hearing was set for April of 2013. All of the convictions were for crimes in Cassia County. Polanco will now likely face an escape charge in Cassia County.

So, as you can see, a guy named Isaac Polanco did in fact escape from a jail in Idaho, but he was apparently caught the next day. "Our" Isaac Polanco is apparently a different dude. There must be something about the name that makes you do criminal stuff, eh?

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli, said during a meeting of the Latin American Business Council (CEAL), that on Monday he would summon the owners of the various television channels in Panama to a meeting, to ask them to stop harping on the theme of insecurity in the country. "Channels 13, 4 and 2 produce a shoddy news broadcast because through its contents they give a message of insecurity in the country, which we are not living." He argued that Panama is one of the safest countries in Latin American, and that an example is that we don't have to go around using bodyguards and much less armored vehicles. On Sunday Martinelli went to the Judicial Investigation Department for an alleged assassination attempt against him. So far three people have been arrested, two members of the Institutional Protection Service and a foreigner. (Source: María De Gracia for the Panama America)

Editor's Comment: Mr. President - there were an average of three murders per day during 2009, which is a lot for a relatively small country of just 3.3 million inhabitants. The bodies are turning up by the dozens. Just last night there was one dude who was shot twelve times, and the headline was that he survived the attack. When you say that "we are not living" in a period of extreme insecurity, you are quite simply wrong. And do you really think that asking the heads of the television channels to order their reporters to cover crime and violence less will have any kind of impact? It won't. Once we get done talking about all of the corruption scandals, we barely have time to talk about the executions and the stacks of dead bodies found tossed by the side of the road every night, which we fit in before the fatal traffic accidents, and before the stories about the 600 kilos of seized cocaine. In short, are you friggin' kidding me? This country is a lot less safe than it was just ten or fifteen years ago. Now, they will kill you for $5 bucks and a cheap cell phone. That happened two days ago in San Miguelito, by the way. A taxi driver was killed for exactly that. You might feel safe, but no one else does.   

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation reviewed the international movements of Isaac Polanco - the Puerto Rican who has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a plot to kidnap President Ricardo Martinelli - and is reportedly investigating the case as an act of international terrorism. Records from immigration indicate Polanco arrived in Panama six months ago on a tourist visa. He has no known family members in Panama, or at least thus far none have been found, the source said. The source also indicated that thus far they have not been able to identify the existence of an "intimate partner" (girlfriend.) The FBI is also working to determine if Polanco, who is being held in isolation at the headquarters of the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) in Ancon, is the same as the person of the same name who attended the Air Force Academy located in Colorado in the United States. Institutional Protection Service (SPI) officer Javier Guzman and his brother Benjamin are being held in another cell within the same institution. All face charges for allegedly planning the abduction of Martinelli. BACKGROUND - The assistant inspector of Interpol in Puerto Rico, Ismael Cintron, confirmed Polanco was indicted in the State of Maine in the United States for assault and domestic violence. Cintron said Polanco was booked for this event in 2003. The inspector added they are working to corroborate to determine whether Polanco is the same man who was involved in a case of identify theft in Puerto Rico. So far, his rap sheet has no other criminal activity, beyond the 2003 arrest for domestic violence. Cintron added they do not have any information on Polanco's political allegiances. (Reporter Ricardo Cortés Chico from the newspaper El Nuevo Día of Puerto Rico contributed to this story.) Source: WILLIAM SALA and CARLOS ALBERTO VARGAS for La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: I would still like to see some additional current photos of Isaac Polanco. If anyone knows him or has any additional photos please send them to me at don@panama-guide.com. Now that you've seen his face, maybe you bumped into the guy here in Panama City in the past six months? If so, please send an email or give me a call, cell 6614-0451 or US 845-514-9893. Thanks.   

Officers from the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) raided a residence in the region of Las Lomas, Chiriqui Province, in response to complaints from area residents who said the residence was being used as a whorehouse. Authorities arrested a 25 year-old transvestite who calls himself "Karen" who controlled the place where underage girls, aged between 14 and 17, worked as prostitutes. A client who as at the scene was arrested at the time of the raid. The minors have been handed over to the competent authorities, with their names and identities protected. The First Superior Prosecutor of Chiriqui, Jose Henriquez, said on Telemetro that they have opened an investigation into the case and that they will take the necessary measures to prevent these children returning to the activity of prostitution. (Source: ABDIEL AUGUSTO PATINO for La Estrella)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - A 27 year-old Puerto Rican named Isaac Polanco was arrested in Panama City last Sunday. He has since been charged by Assistant Prosecutor Luis Martinez with plotting to kidnap Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli and to hold him in return for a $10 million dollar ransom. Polanco was reportedly using the alias "Israel Montenegro" while in Panama. According to intelligence sources who have spoken to reporters from La Prensa, Polanco first came to Panama in 2008 and his most recent entry into the country was six months ago. If anyone has a photo of Isaac Polanco (aka Israel Montenegro) please send it to don@panama-guide.com. If anyone knows Isaac Polanco personally please contact me as well. Thanks.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

Isaac Polanco, aka Israel Montenegro, 27 year old Puerto Rican citizen, was arrested last Sunday and has been detained at the Direction of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) as the mastermind behind of an alleged plan to kidnap the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli. According to intelligence sources, Polanco arrived in Panama for the first time in 2008 and his most recent entry was six months ago. Interpol-Panama has requested additional information from their counterparts in Puerto Rico, especially regarding this personal information, background, and police record. Preliminary investigations indicate the three conspirators planned to execute their plot against Martinelli during a public event that was to be held in a public place, but the date or location of the planned attack was not disclosed. When the information became available to the Security Council of the Presidency last week, the arrest of the Puerto Rican was immediately ordered. He was arrested near the Yuyín Luzcando gym in Bethania. After his arrest, Polanco told officials from the Institutional Protection Service (SPI) he had contacted an SPI Corporal who was working in the area of Corozal, and that he in turn had asked his brother to join the plan. The corporal was identified as 30 year-old Javier Joel Guzmán who was arrested at this workplace. His brother, 28 year-old Benjamín Guzmán, was arrested at his house in San Miguelito. According to the initial statement made by Polanco, the plan was to kidnap Martinelli and demand $10 million dollars for his release. The three men involved in this plan met several times and there is even supposedly a video recording made during the meetings which is being sought, said the source. Thus far investigators have been unable to determine if there are more people involved in this conspiracy, or who was financing the plan. Meanwhile, yesterday Panama's Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez designated Assistant Prosecutor Luis Martinez as the lead investigator in this case, and the three men have already been charged. It was reported yesterday that the prosecutor was involved in expanding the preliminary statement of the accused. Polanco is being detained in a separate location, away from the Guzman brothers. The secretary general of the PRD, Mitchell Doens, said that if the reports are true, then he stands in solidarity with the investigations to catch the culprits, "because homeland and democracy stand above politics." Doens said he hopes this complaint "is not a Reichstag," referring to the burning of the German parliament by the Nazis, who then blamed the opposition. (Source: JOSÉ OTERO and WILLIAM SALA for La Prensa)   

Approximately $6,000 dollars in cash and a checkbook were stolen from a tourist from Central America as he was about to pass through the gate to enter the Colon Free Trade Zone to make purchases. The tourist, who was in a group with about 40 other people, was attacked by the criminal who put a knife to his neck as he got off of a bus. Threatened with the knife, the tourist had no other recourse than to surrender his personal belongings, authorities explained. The offender ran away toward the area of Arco Iris, which is considered to be a "red zone." The National Police have launched an operation to find the criminal. (Source: Diómedes Sánchez S. for La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Well, isn't that a great headline for tourism in Panama. Do you think the "authorities" could get off of their fat asses long enough to ensure the safety and security of the "tourists" who come to Panama to spend millions if not billions of dollars every year? And, they can't secure the distance from the door of the bus to the door of the Free Trade Zone? Give me a friggin' break... Now they're running around looking for a kid with a knife in Arco Iris. I have news for you - every kid in Arco Iris has a knife. Good luck sorting through that haystack.   

Three people have been arrested in relation to the alleged kidnapping attempt against Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, and apparently they have already been charged. Assistant Prosecutor Luis Martínez is heading the investigation in the case, as confirmed by Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez. Gomez explained that since president Ricardo Martinelli is involved in the case, then the profile of the investigation is immediately raised, and she said that she understands that charges have already been formulated against the detainees. Gomez said the public should know that the Public Ministry is doing its job and the public will be informed as the investigation develops. (Source: Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: That's the first time I've seen an indication that this "foreigner" who is reportedly a Puerto Rican and therefore a US citizen, has been arrested. The previous article indicated that the person had been charged, but its possible to charge someone without having them in custody. Anyway, it now appears that whoever this person is, is now actually arrested and charged in this case.   

Panama's Attorney General, Ana Matilde Gomez, said today that in the case of the threat to the safety of President Ricardo Martinelli, (everyone) should wait until advances are made in the investigation being carried out by the Assistant Prosecutor, before making any statements on the case. Gomez declined to proved any additional details on the investigation, but she said charges have been filed against three individuals involved in the act denounced by President Martinelli, two members of the Institutional Protection System (SPI) and a foreigner. Gomez said the type of crime committed will determine the process, and not the fact that the person concerned is the President. "It will depend on what is achieved in the investigations. Let's wait. I can not speculate. Let's allow the Public Ministry to do its job and everything that is learned will be reported," said Gomez. This morning Panama's Minister of Trade and Industry said the two agents of the SPI, who have already confessed, said they were contacted by a Puerto Rican, who apparently was organizing a kidnapping in which the victim was to be president Martinelli. (Source: ABDIEL AUGUSTO PATINO for La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: This is the first confirmation I've seen that charges have been filed against the "foreigner" who is reportedly a Puerto Rican, which means a US citizen was possibly involved in organizing the attempt. In this press conference Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez is obviously asking everyone (including the Minister of Commerce and Industry) keep their collective mouths shut about this case until the prosecutor has had time to investigate. I have not seen anything to indicate that the Puerto Rican, who remains unnamed thus far, has been apprehended. And, I guess that means law enforcement officials are actively looking for this person. Obviously, there will be much more to come on this story as the information develops over time. Stay tuned.    

After five hours of deliberation a jury found Rogelios "Juana Peña" Ramos and Jorge Morgan guilty of attempted murder for the death of SUNTRACS worker Osvaldo Lorenzo. Ramos was acquitted of the "actual fact" (meaning, the prosecutor did not prove he actually pulled the trigger.) Miguel Ibarra, another defendant, was convicted of masterminding the murder. The other two defendants in the case, Gustavo Santimateo and Julio Coronado, who were only facing the charge of murder, were acquitted. Members of the Single National Union of Construction Industry Workers (SUNTRACS) said they are satisfied with the jury's verdict. The judge in the case, Secundino Mendieta, now has up to thirty days to sentence the men, who could face up to eight years in prison. (Source: Panama America)

Editor's Comment: SUNTRACS union organizers bussed large numbers of their members to the construction headquarters of the of Construtora Norberto Odebrecht S.A. company in Chilibre, who at the time was building the extension of the Northern Corridor to Colón. In Panama the SUNTRACS construction labor union has a terrible reputation as being left-wing extremists and trouble makers, so it's common for companies to try to keep their job sites from being organized by that union. Norberto Odebrecht did exactly that, and their job sites are organized by a competing union, the Sindicato Nacional de la Industria de la Construcción y Perforación de Panamá (SINTICOOP) (National Union of the Construction and Perforation Industry of Panama). The company's actions to keep SUNTRACS out of their job site severely pissed off the union leadership, mostly because each union member who is working pays 2% of his pay every month in union dues. The government contract to extend the Northern Corridor was a huge contract that potentially could have represented millions of dollars for the SUNTRACS coffers, and they were willing to fight for it. On the morning of Tuesday, 14 August 2007, the SUNTRACS leadership bussed several dozen of their members to Chilibre to confront and provoke the members of the SINTICOOP union who were there. SUNTRACS union members produced weapons and started firing into the Construtora Norberto Odebrecht S.A. compound. When the bullets started flying, these men from the SINTICOOP union (who were convicted in this jury trial) forcibly took a handgun from a security guard who was working at the scene and returned fire. One of those bullets struck Osvaldo Lorenzo in the chest and killed him. This was a lamentable and perfectly avoidable incident, resulting in the death of one man and another three men going to prison, all thanks to the irresponsible decision made by the leadership of the SUNTRACS labor union to provoke the conflict in the first place. And what happened to those guys? Not a damn thing. They manipulate people and situations, haul in millions of dollars in dues every year, and do practically nothing for their membership, beyond getting them killed in situations such as this. I lay the blame for the death of Osvaldo Lorenzo at the feet of the SUNTRACS union leadership - that's where it belongs.   

After 24 hours without details and just a brief official statement from the government, this morning Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industry Minister, Roberto Henriquez, revealed authorities have in fact uncovered a plan to kidnap the President of the Republic, Ricardo Martinelli. Henríquez explained that two agents of the Institutional Protection System confessed to having participated in the planning to kidnap Martinelli. He said the officers were "apparently approached and penetrated by a foreigner from Puerto Rico who wanted to attempt to kidnap the President." Henriquez explained on the TVN channel 2 morning news broadcast that probably after kidnapping Martinelli they wanted to "transfer him physically to an unofficial group." "But the investigations continue and they have not concluded, and therefore there may be more ramifications," he added. Henríquez said information he has until the moment allows him to ensure that the information which has appeared in the press about the plan "is completely true." (Source: Manuel Vega Loo for La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Wow! All Puerto Ricans are US citizens. In the original Spanish language version of this article, Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industry actually says the two SPI officers were approached by "a foreigner of Puerto Rican nationality..." If in fact that is true, then the person who was involved in this plot is carrying a US passport and is a US citizen. You know what's funny? I thought I would be writing an article like this someday, but I never expected a kidnapping attempt against President Ricardo Martinelli. I thought I might eventually be writing about an attempt by someone from Puerto Rico to kidnap Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, who is an indicted criminal and fugitive from justice, wanted by the United States as an terrorist in the 1992 assassination of US Army Sergeant Zak Hernandez, who was Puerto Rican. Anyway, according to Henriquez this was a true and valid threat against Martinelli which involved the penetration of his security team, and the apparent participation of a US citizen. Not good.   

The questions continue. Ricardo Martinelli visited the offices of the Direction of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) last night, and the reason for this visit has become a mystery. Although the authorities have said little, informal reports indicate that three officers from the Institutional Protection System (SPI) are under investigation, allegedly for being involved in some type of activity that could endanger the life of President Martinelli. For his part, Panama's Anti Corruption Czar Fernando Núñez Fábrega said this could be related in some way to the theft of two computers from the offices of the National Council of Transparency Against Corruption (CNTCC). (Source: TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: Huh? The President of Panama had to go to the office of the DIJ? I mean, don't you think those guys should go to him? Something's going on, and it could be big. The PRD is really, really "upset" at the on-going investigations into corruption across the board, and into the activities of Ernesto Perez Balladares in particular. And remember, back just before the election there were strong rumors of the possibility of an assassination attempt against Martinelli. And now there's this weak report about how three SPI guys might have been involved in something that could have put Martinelli's life in danger? Listen - Martinelli is severely pissing off a whole lot of people, many of them with virtually unlimited resources. I would not put it past any of them to try to take him out. Remember, Panama and the rest of Latin America is only one generation away from the old days, when you tossed your problems into the Bay of Panama from a high flying helicopter. Many of the members of the (formerly) ruling political class are really nothing more than organized crime figures dressed up and disguised as politicians. I just watched a documentary last night on the theory of how the mafia killed JFK, so maybe my brain is tuned to entertain conspiracy theories right now. Anyway, "fugitaboutit..."   

PANAMA - Panamanian Government and Justice Minister Jose Raul Mulino blamed the violence affecting Panama and rocketing fatality rate on the huge trafficking of drugs brought into the country. Minister Mulino told TVN Noticias station of plans to increase police actions to fight that scourge, as carrying out preventative operations, establishing police posts in different points of the country to detect fire arms and illegal drugs, and improving the penitentiary security system. Official data showed that Panama concluded 2009 with 28,554 crimes, including 1,948 robberies, 18,006 thefts and 806 homicides, 114 of which were blamed on gang fights, 92 on executions and 102 on robberies. (Source: insidecostarica.com)

Editor's Comment: Most violent crime in Panama is in some way related to drug trafficking. While members of the English speaking expatriate community are regularly targeted for theft and robberies, this kind of really violent and fatal crime generally bypasses our community for the most part.   

Panama's Minister of Government and Justice, José Raúl Mulino, confirmed that on Monday morning three Colombians escaped from the El Renacer prison in Gamboa. Apparently the three Colombians, who are reportedly linked to drug trafficking kingpin Pablo Rayo Montaño, walked out of the front door of the prison, therefore criminal complicity of the staff of the prison can not be ruled out. Mulino said no one escapes from prison in Panama if there is no "corruption" and "complicity" on the part of the prison guards. Mulino said he would issue a full report on the situation this afternoon. (Source: Panama America)

Editor's Comment: Anyone who has enough money at their disposal can literally buy their way out of any Panamanian prison. They spread the money around so that everyone gets a taste, with the bulk of the money going to those who stand the greatest risk of doing some time in prison themselves if they get caught. The guards set it up so that it looks like an "escape", the bad guy heads for the hills, and everyone claims to know nothing. You know, kinda like Sgt. Schultz... In my humble opinion they should conduct polygraph examinations of the entire staff, and prosecute those responsible. Meanwhile, the three Colombian dudes will probably lay low for a few days, and then work their way toward the border.

   

Proceeds from the sale of property owned by David Murcia Guzman, of DMG, will be used to repay his victims here in Panama. This information was provided by the Fourteenth Circuit Prosecutor, William Parodi, yesterday Friday during a press conference. His office is investigating DMG and the corporations that are linked to the Colombian company for the alleged illegal collection of money. The "pyramid" scandal broke in November 2008. According to research Panamanian victims lost about $3.6 million dollars. The firms clients invested large sums of money in return for supposed payouts of up to 130%. (Source: La Critica)

Editor's Comment: In Panama there were about 900 people who invested about $3.6 million dollars in David Murcia's pyramid scams. He had property in Panama worth much more than that, so the people here will probably end up being some of the few who will eventually emerge relatively unscathed from this whole mess. He had cars, a yacht, property, and apartments. David Murcia stole millions upon millions of dollars from people in Colombia, and he was recently extradited to the United States where he will face money laundering charges. He has already been tried and convicted in Colombia. He was living in Panama because he thought he was relatively safe here after having paid bribes to Panamanian government officials. When he was arrested and summarily deported to Colombia to face trial he felt betrayed by the PRD government of Martin Torrijos, which is why he went to the press with his allegations of having paid $6 million dollars in "campaign contributions" - $3 million to Roberto Velasquez and $3 million to Balbina Herrera. While the fact of the "donations" has not been proven or substantiated, both Velasquez and Herrera lost their respective elections, thanks in no small part to the controversy created by the statements of David Murcia.   

The 8 and 13 year old children who were savagely beaten by their 44 year-old uncle who apparently suffers from mental disorders, remain hospitalized at Children's Hospital, still in serious condition. Doctors have reported that both children have severe cranial trauma and they fear that the 8 year old child might not be able to recover. Their uncle, Diego Rivas, remains under arrest in the Second Prosecutor's Office where he is being investigated for the brutal beating he gave to his nephews while they were sleeping in his house in the area of San Isidro. (Source: TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: This was a sad and shocking story that broke this week. Apparently this guy is a schizophrenic and the grandmother who normally lives in the house and who takes care of the children spent the night at the house of another one of her daughters. The children were left to sleep in the house with the uncle. For unknown reasons, he flipped out and beat both of the kids to within an inch of their lives. Most of the blows were to the face and head. Neighbors heard yelling and screaming and they called the police. The kids were rushed to the hospital, alive, but just barely.   

They are reliving a sad time. Anel Omar Rodríguez Jr. follows closely every move made in the reconstruction of the death of this father, Anel Omar Rodríguez, who served as the Director of the National Institute of Culture (INAC). Rodriguez was killed on 10 March 2009 when he unexpectedly found himself in the middle of a shootout between criminals and the security guards of an armored car. In that incident Samuel Monroy, one of the security guards of the armored car, also died. The reconstruction, which was watched by the relatives of the victims an curious bystanders, started at 8:00 am yesterday morning. The four people implicated in this case were there, in a Public Ministry vehicle, guarded by National Police officers. It was not until midday when Leoncio Hernandez, one of those accused in the crime, handcuffed and with shackled feet, gave his version of how the incident occurred. Today the other three detainees will give their versions. Also detained in this case are Mario Esteban Herrera, Roberto Jaramillo and Euris Zeballos. (Source: Carolina Sánchez P. for DIAaDIA)

Editor's Comment: In Panama it's common for the prosecutors in criminal cases to order a "reconstruction" of the events, on the scene where it occurred. They have closed off two streets and positioned the armored car and other vehicles where they were the day of the attempted robbery, and they walk through the testimony second-by-second, with different people taking up positions of everyone involved. They also film the whole thing and take pictures. There are provisions in the Panamanian criminal code that allows for substantial reductions in prison terms for those who fully cooperate with judicial authorities and investigators, so by this point the accused (if they are actually guilty) are usually highly motivated to help the prosecutors in any way possible. I believe one of the four is holding out, but the testimony of the other three will probably put an end to that. Anyway, I've witnessed several of these reconstructions and it's an effective law enforcement technique.   

The director of Panama's National Environmental Authority (ANAM), Javier Arias, blamed the company Ocean Pollution Control, for the oil spill in the area of Corozal in the district of Ancon. Arias said investigations confirmed the oily substance found in the area of the spill contained quantities of oil, and he added the company does not have the required permissions to handle these chemicals and should be held responsible for damages done to the environment. "Environmental protection is an obligation of the state and that is very clear in the Constitution, so that is why we are evaluating which course to follow in order to give a correct pronouncement in accordance with the law," said Arias. (Srouce: ARTURO CARLOS CASTILLO for La Estrella) (See Comments)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (125 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - On Monday evening at about 9:15 pm four masked men entered the restaurant of the Villa Romantica hotel on Isla Contadora. The restaurant was packed full of hotel guests and tourists, and the four armed men held everyone at gunpoint as they liberated people of their wallets, watches, rings, and other valuables - and they also emptied the cash register. Thankfully no one was harmed and the four men fled the scene. There is a small police presence on the island and they arrived to start and investigation. Today the hotel's owner went to San Miguel to talk to the local area Mayor and to file an official complaint with the DIJ in order to allow their investigators to conduct a more complete investigation of the robbery - they can't do anything without a complaint. It is thought the four gunmen came from neighboring Saboga island to conduct the robbery. This robbery is very unusual in that attempts like this against tourists are relatively rare in remote areas. Basically, the further you get away from Panama City, there's more of an "everybody knows everybody" kind of atmosphere, and it's much easier for police detectives to eventually figure out who was responsible. However, any kind of crime against tourists during the peak of the dry season is bad news for Panama. Hopefully the authorities will jump on this and track down the bad guys. Finally, thanks for Mike H. for the tip.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The Panamanian National Police as part an operation dubbed "New Year's Shield" managed to arrest 37 year-old Euris Magdiel Zeballos, who is a suspect in the murder of Anel Omar González, the Director of Panama's National Institute of Culture (INAC). Zeballos was arrested near the Bridge of the Americas as he drove towards Panama City. He claims to be a contractor. INAC Director Anel Omar González was killed by gunfire when he was in the area of an attempted robbery of the National Lottery building on 10 March 2009. Zeballos is the third person arrested in this case. (Source: Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Crime and violence always increases in Panama during the holidays, and this year was no exception as at least seven people were killed in traffic accidents and murders around the country. Two people were killed in traffic accidents. 66 year old Esparquio Torres Zúñiga was run over and killed on Christmas eve by a passenger bus in the area of Torrijos-Carter. Also on Christmas eve, 28 year old Juan de Los Angeles Concepción was run over and killed on the road leading to La Yeguada in the province of Veraguas. 37 year old Cecilia Ramos was shot three times and killed by a group of unknown persons as she sat outside of her house in the area of Las Mañanitas in Panama City. 20 year old Alfredo Herrera was shot and killed in a shootout between two gangs in the area of La Loma in Curundú, also in Panama City. 31 year old "naval officer" Víctor José Acuña was shot in the head and killed by unknown assailants. Meanwhile, 38 year old Jose Aguilar died accidentally after a slip and fall in the area of el Valle de San Isidro. Finally, 34 year old Rigoberto Salinas was stoned to death in the area of Victoriano Lorenzo, when a group of youngsters threw stones at him until he was dead, for unknown reasons.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

BBC News - A Colombian man who ran a pyramid scheme that defrauded thousands of people of their life savings has received a 30-year jail term. David Murcia Guzman was sentenced after being found guilty in August of money-laundering and illicit enrichment. Murcia, who insists his business was legal, led the DMG Group, which promised returns of well over 100%. Its collapse in November 2008 led to widespread street protests across Colombia by investors. Sentencing Murcia to 30 years in prison, the judge also ordered that he be fined $12.5m (£7.7m). It is expected that Murcia will soon face extradition to the US where he faces money-laundering charges. Murcia was extradited from Panama to Colombia a year ago to face accusations that his business was a pyramid scheme that amassed millions of dollars and duped at least 200,000 Colombians out of their life savings. The demise of DMG provoked protests both by those angry at the loss of their money and also by investors who insisted that the company was legitimate and that the government had forced its collapse.   

Mi Diario - Four more people were found executed - One in La Huaca de Sorá, in Chame, one in Veraguas and two more on the road that goes towards from Madden towards Chilibre. The first body was found in the middle of a pasture in the area of La Pastrana, in Santiago. There was found in an advanced state of decomposition the body of a 17 year-old, last name Cáceres, who was recently involved in a car theft case in the town of Ocu in the province of Herrera. In that case he was held in the community of El Uvito de Santiago and he had just been released 22 days ago. Meanwhile, the residents of Sorá were alarmed by the discovery of the body of a man who was apparently executed - who was wrapped in a blanket and dumped in a ditch next to the road. Police determined the body belongs to Angelo Vito McBarnatte, 24 years old, who had his identification card in his pocket. They were also able to determine that he lived in the area of Las Acacias in Panama. Investigators are working to determine if this person was actually in the area together with other people who currently are being sought by law enforcement. According to José Chin, a prosecutor in Chame, the victim had a bullet wound to the chest and he left behind an 8 month old baby. He also said they would have to wait for the results of the autopsy to determine the cause of death. In the capital of Panama City, at about 5:15 pm the bodies of Raúl Miranda and Víctor Rivera, 17 and 16 years old respectively, were found in an advanced state of decomposition about 500 meters from the exit to Chilibre along the Northern Corridor in the district of Panama. Both were wearing only underwear, had tape over their mouths, and one had his hands tied with a zip-strip. The bodies were found by children who were cutting sugar cane in the area, and they were alerted by the smell. At first they only saw one body, but when the police arrived they found the other one about 40 meters away. The two boys, who were neighbors, lived in the area of El Valle de San Isidro and they have been missing since 9 December, according to family members who arrived on the scene to identify the bodies. (Editor's Comment: I remember when this kind of thing never happened in Panama, and that was only a few years ago. Now, it's becoming more and more common, mostly due to drug trafficking.)   

TVN Noticias - The criminals intercepted the doctor as he arrived at his house in Albrook. Doctor Aurelio Torres Chang remains in critical condition after being shot by a criminal who was trying to steal from his house in Albrook. The attack occurred on Thursday evening on Thursday when Torres came home with his wife. As they arrived at the house the criminals, who were hidden in nearby tall grass, rushed against the doctor who tried to defend himself with a firearm, but soon the assailants shot him in the head. Despite having been shot, the doctor managed to reach his gun and return fire against the criminals, who Torres managed to shoot in the abdomen. Now the doctor remains in intensive care at the National Hospital, where he works, while the injured offender is out of danger. He is being held at the Santo Tomas hospital where he was taken by a taxi driver who is also being detained for investigation. Local residents were concerned over the attack, and they say this is the first time something like this has happened. After the attempted robbery they called upon the authorities to provide additional security.   

By Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro - For the second time, the vehicle of Federico José Suárez, the Minister of Public Works, came under attack. It happened when one of his drivers went to pick up Suárez's son. Some assailants fired on the vehicle in the area of Hato Pintado. At first the driver thought it was a stone, but when he checked the body of the car he found a 38 caliber bullet hole. The driver filed a complaint with the Direction of Judicial Investigation to determine if this was an accident or not. In a first occasion, the Minister's vehicle was hit, but it was a stone and it happened in Panama Viejo.   

By ARTURO CARLOS CASTILLO for La Estrella - A source at the Ministry of Government and Justice told La Estrella that the lawyer Javier Justiniani was detained at the La Joya prison when he went to visit one of this clients, for disrespecting authority. According to the source Justiniani was fully aware that he could not enter the prison with a cell phone and when he was told that he should leave them in a kiosk, he became loud and violent and screamed at the top of his voice to bystanders and the bodyguards of the Minister of Government and Justice Jose Raul Mulino to "tell that ..... of a Minister - who gave the order to leave cell phones outside!" After the incident a police report was made and Justiniani was taked to the Direction of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) where he was processed.   

By Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro - Professor Luis Powell, the director of the School of Artes y Oficios, could be charged with attempted murder following the shooting of Daniel De Ávila on the Northern Corridor. At first the case was being treated as a brawl after the expanded declaration was forwarded to the night court judge, but later the judge decided to send the case to prosecutors. Meanwhile, Powell remains in custody and De Avila is recovering at his residence. It is expected that De Avila's attorneys will formally submit the complaint against the school director Luis Powell.   

By Urania Cecilia Molina for La Prensa - Representatives from the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) reported this afternoon the Director of the Artes y Oficios school, Luis Marcelo Powell, who shot another driver this morning on the Northern Corridor, will be removed from office pending the completion of administrative investigations that have been opened following this incident. MEDUCA's position on this incident was disclosed at a press conference by representatives of the Directorate General of Education, the Regional Center of Panama and the Directorate of Legal Advice. As explained, Powell will continue to receive his salary. However, education authorities warned that, if it is proven he committed a grave offense he could be fired. This morning Powell shot the driver of another car at a toll booth on the Northern Corridor. The injured driver was 42 year old Daniel Avila Hernandez, who was taken to the Social Security hospital where he is recovering from a gunshot would to the abdomen. (Editor's Comment: Daniel Avila Hernandez works for the Civil Aviation Administration. These two got into it at the toll booth when one guy cut off the other guy in traffic, their cars collided, a confrontation ensued, and Daniel Avila Hernandez was shot by Powell.)   

By Denise Lara for Telemetro Reporta - An unfortunate incident occurred this morning on the Northern Corridor, when one angry driver shot another. There were two vehicles involved in this incident, a gray Kia Sportage and a white Mitsubishi Lancer. Before making a turn, the victim was driving a white Mitsubishi Lancer, made a semi-stop. That was when the other vehicle crashed into him from behind. Upon getting out of this vehicle to talk to the driver of the other vehicle, the 52 year old man was surprised when the other driver, without saying a word, shot him in the stomach. The injured man was taken to the Social Security hospital, while the 42 year old shooter was arrested by police. (Editor's Comment: Sometimes these accident write-ups can be a little confusing. The guy in the white Mitsubishi Lancer slowed down to make a turn. The gray Sportage crashed into him from behind. When the driver of the white car - the guy who got hit from behind - got out of his car to go back to talk to the other driver, the guy who crashed into him from behind shot him in the stomach. Once it's all said and done, I'll bet there's a missing element in this story. I bet the guy who got hit from behind went back to the other guy in a fit of rage - intent on ripping the lungs out of the guy who hit him - and the dude in the gray car fired in self defense. Obviously that's pure conjecture on my part, but it makes sense considering the scenario. Why would you drive into someone and then just shoot them for no reason?)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just spoke to one of the lawyers who is actively hunting Carl Baker. Apparently Baker (whose real name is Carlos Beckles Thompson) ripped off a member of the English speaking community here in Panama for about $3,500 dollars and now that person's lawyers have filed a series of criminal complaints for fraud, inappropriately collecting money, and other crimes against him. I was also told there is now an order from a prosecutor which prevents "Carl Baker" (Carlos Beckles Thompson) from leaving Panama. Later this week I expect to be meeting with the prosecutor who is investigating this case, in order to give him a full briefing on the rich and varied history of the criminal activities of this person and the various frauds and scams he has committed against English speaking tourists here. Baker (Carlos Beckles Thompson) normally targets only tourists in transit - it you tell him "I live here" he usually doesn't want anything to do with you. He's fully aware that residents will be here long enough to file criminal complaints and to follow up with legal and judicial authorities. Apparently in this case he slipped up. I'm happy to say it appears this particular piece of crap is circling the bowl, about to head off to the place where he belongs. Once he's locked up for good I'll let you know. Oh, and I'm also awaiting current color photographs taken of him. He's apparently hanging out at the Albrook Mall these days, which explains why he called be from a 314 number - it was almost certainly a pay phone at the mall.

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Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This afternoon I got a phone call from the serial scammer Carl Baker, who called me from telephone number 314-6564. When he called my cell phone and I answered he asked "is this Don Winner"? When I said yes, he just started talking about having a job and being concerned about his family and rattling on about a whole bunch of stuff. I interrupted him to ask "who is this" and that's when he identified himself. I told him that the one person on the planet that he's not going to be able to bullshit is me, so he could drop the whole "feeling sorry for himself" routine. This week I was contacted by some lawyers who said Baker ripped off one of their clients and that they are going to put his ass in jail. So, I told Baker the only reason he's calling me or looking for redemption or whatever is because he's gotten caught and now he's probably going to go to jail. I told him that I could give a crap less, and that he should call back after he's gone to jail and spent a good number of years behind bars for the hundreds if not thousands of crimes he's committed. I told him that he's nothing more than a serial criminal who got caught and that in my opinion he should go to jail for a long, long time. With that, I gave him one more "screw you" - and then I wished him good luck in prison. Can you believe the gall of this son of a bitch? Classic criminal mind, only cares about himself, totally self absorbed, and still thinking he could weasel his way out of this corner somehow by talking to me. Well, I got news for you, Mr. "Iraq Vet with the lost passport" scumbag - once you are in jail then I'm going to broadcast it far and wide, and invite every person you've ever victimized to come forward and to file additional complaints. Hopefully the little convictions will pile up and you'll spend a long, long time in prison. It's about time. Prison is full of pricks just like you. You should fit right in.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

La Estrella - PANAMA. The Customs Authority yesterday seized five containers in the port of Balboa (reverted area) from China, which were full of counterfeit merchandise and whose destination was Central America. Possible connections to Panamanian companies are being investigated. Last night customs officials still had to inspect the contents of four additional containers. (Editor's Comment: Another of Panama's "open secrets" - many of the companies in Panama that have contracts to be the local distributor of large name brands often fly to China to talk directly to the managers of the factories that are cranking out millions of shirts or shoes or watches or whatever. They agree to report a percentage of the merchandise to the parent company that holds the brand, and then produce and sell on the side larger amounts of "counterfeit" merchandise. In these cases the products are made in the exact same factories and by the same standards as the "original" or "authorized" products - the only difference is that those items are not reported to the brand owners. In short, the Panamanian middlemen in the Colon Free Zone and the factor owners in China are collaborating in collusion to rip off the brand owner. It happens all the time. That's why you can find so much "name brand" merchandise for sale at deep discount prices in stores in Panama, especially in places like Calidonia and the more popular stores - they try to keep the cheap crap out of places like Multicentro where the clients can afford to pay full price. Industry spends millions of dollars every year to fight counterfeiting, which actually costs them billions. Panama is ground zero for this kind of activity.)