RICARDO MARTINELLI GOES INTO HIDING

FROM THE - CHRONICLES of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA~

~Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock ~

Reliable sources in the Republic of Panama have stated that the country's former president, Ricardo Martinelli, was the subject of an unsuccessful kidnapping effort, at his Miami residence, conducted by three Americans. 

The object of the operation was allegedly to return Martinelli to Panama, to face the twelve criminal charges pending against him.

As the result, the source said that Martinelli has gone into hiding, at an undisclosed location. it is important to stress that this information has not been confirmed. 

During the past several months, there has been speculation that he was a target of covert efforts to remove him from the United States, and bring him to Panama. His attorneys have resisted, upon procedural grounds, all government efforts to extradite him.

PANAMANIAN COURT REFUSES TO ALLOW PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN TO BOND OUT ON TAX AND SALARY OFFENSES

FROM THE - CHRONICLES of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA~~Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock ~

Richard Fifer

In what many will certainly regard as the actions of a kangaroo court, devoid of any loyalty to the rule of law, Richard Fifer, whose former company owes Social Security taxes, and salaries in Panama, was refused bond. 

Fifer a dual citizen of Panama & Canada, a former provincial governor, and a former diplomat. If anyone qualifies to be released on bond, for any purpose, he certainly qualifies. Additionally, Petaquilla's debts and obligations cannot be imputed to him under a fair interpretation of Panamanian law.

Political influence is believed to have caused the court to order him held, though the circumstances will now serve as an abject warning to foreign businessman, that they could be indefinitely imprisoned, while their possible liability for corporate obligation is sorted out, which could take years. Fifer was relieved of his official duties some time ago, and many legal authorities state that he has no personal liability. 

The detention is being seen as an improper method is insuring payment,  notwithstanding that he probably has no liability. The proceedings will certainly raise risk levels for foreign businessmen and investors thinking of coming to Panama. 

MARTINELLI'S LAWYERS SEEKS DISMISSIAL OF $44.5m CORRUPTION CHARGE ON PROCEDURAL GROUNDS

The Dream Team answer questions from journalists

Ricardo Martinelli's "Dream Team" of criminal defense lawyers continue in their efforts to delay the cases against their client, by employing procedural defenses, rather than proceeding to trial. In the PAN case, where there are massive allegations of corruption, specifically bribes and kickbacks, They assert that there were Constitutional violations, in connection with the solicitation of bank records, which was accomplished without court order.

A hearing on their defense motions to dismiss has been set for next week. The case in chief is set for trial, against co-defendants, in May. Public anger at the delays in Martinelli's dozen cases continues to increase in Panama City, and some of that has begun to focus upon Martinelli's team of attorneys, who are certainly not camera-shy, when speaking to the media in Panama. 

They have been holding what amounts to daily press conferences, to brief the media about what they claim is unfair treatment of their client.

The illegal surveillance case, whereby over 150 prominent Panamanians were subject to video surveillance, telephone and Internet taps, has generated the most public attention. There has been no effort, on behalf of his counsel, to bring in their client for the mandatory personal court appearances that are required under Panamanian law. Will Martinelli ever appear for trial ?

RICARDO MARTINELLI BLACKMAILS PANAMA

FROM THE - CHRONICLES of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA~

~Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock ~

If you were wondering why the Government of Panama, having judicially determined some time ago that it is appropriate to extradite its former president, Ricardo Martinelli, has not followed through with the issuance of the appropriate documents, you are not alone. The answer may disturb you, but it is consistent with the country's problem: the systemic corruption, past, present & future, that Panama is drowning in.

You see, many of the members of the present, reformist government, now in power, were also either in the Martinelli administration, were linked to it, and the vast majority of the senior staff, including the sitting President, Juan Carlos Varela, also profited substantially from the use of inside information, in connection with the Petaquilla Gold Mine scandal. It's not just the Martinelli cabinet that made millions of illegal profits.

 How can the Varela government allow Martinelli to be extradited, for he has promised, if put on trial, to expose all those who are as equally guilty as he is, in taking illegal stock profits, through trading with the benefit of non-public information, in the Petaquilla Mining/Financial Pacific matter. Whether this constitutes blackmail I leave to the experts in the laws of Panama.

One source has asserted that this threat was delivered by no less than Martinelli's primary criminal defense lawyer, Leonardo Paul Aparicio, who has actively sought to quash the pending proceedings, twice, through the use of procedural objections, which most lawyers would opine were presented solely for the purposes of delay. Attorney Paul has regularly visited Martinelli, at his Miami residence, and he is thought to be the lead member of the so-called Dream Team, assembled to block all efforts to return their client to stand trial in Panama.

Leonardo Paul Aparicio

If Martinelli has evidence that shows Varela, and his senior advisers, profited handsomely from insider trading, he may never be extradited, and all the talk of reform in Panama will not result in any meaningful systemic changes, and Ricardo Martinelli will cheat justice.   

MARTINELLI ALLY DIRECTS EFFORTS TO UNSEAT PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT FROM COLOMBIA

FROM THE - CHRONICLES Of Andrei Slavenkov Netherlands –  Analyst For Wanted SA ~ Contributed & Written By Kenneth Rijock ~

Salomón Shamah, the former Panamanian Minister of Tourism, under the former government of Ricardo Martinelli, is reportedly directing the operation who goal is the resignation of the Varela administration, or failing that, initiating a coup d'etat in Panama. 

While Shamah has avoid entering Panama of late, his wife is said to be serving as his emissary to factions within the country, seeking support among the power elite. He is one of the leaders of the movement to unseat Varela, and replace him with Martinelli.

The people of the Republic of Panama, sick of official corruption, and seeing that the much-anticipated reform movement of Varela has failed to make any significant progress, since taking office, are being bombarded with calls for his resignation. 

This movement is reportedly led by Panama's powerful Syrian Organized Crime Syndicate (whose less politically correct description is the Sephardic Group), who wish to dismantle the current leadership, under the guise of replacing a failed administration. 

In truth and in fact,  the plotters wish to enthrone a Martinelli-led coalition, which will unfortunately, place Panama back into a system featuring massive, systemic corruption.   

Shamah, a Colombian national who holds Panamanian citizenship, whose prior involvement in drug smuggling and arms trafficking, let alone ties to David Murcia/DMG, caused his US visa to be revoked, is rumored to have been engaged in money laundering of narcotics profits, of close ties to Ricardo Martinelli, and of engaging in official corruption while in office. He is known to be commanding the extralegal efforts to remove President Varela.

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MARTINELLI'S SUPPORTERS IN PANAMA SEEK TO REMOVE REFORMIST GOVERNMENT BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY

FROM THE - CHRONICLES Of Andrei Slavenkov Netherlands –  Analyst For Wanted SA ~ Contributed & Written By Kenneth Rijock ~

The reappearance of a number of powerful Panamanians*, who are known supporters of disgraced (and indicted) former President Ricardo Martinelli, and the recurring rumors, to the effect that they intend to remove the current reform president, Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, through a coup, has spread unease throughput Panama City.

Martinelli, presently living in Miami, by virtue some non-public back-room arrangement. with an unnamed American law enforcement agency, has made no bones about his desire to return to power, through any means necessary. The reform process in Panama has frightened the country's powerful organized crime syndicate, whose best patron has always been Martinelli; they are supporting Varela's departure.

The upshot of this is a growing reluctance, on the part of foreign investors, to bring their capital into Panama at this time. The perceived risk levels, already greatly increased due to the massive corruption cases pending in Panama, since Martinelli's departure, are now so high that new money is looking elsewhere in the Caribbean for placement.

As the economy contracts in Panama, capital flight is inevitable, notwithstanding the government's efforts to tax, control, and curtail, it. This new uncertainty is sure to raise Country Risk levels even higher than they are at this time.

Whether Panama should be completely redlined for all banking, and investment purposes, is a matter for individual assessment, but there is a well-founded fear that the situation will further deteriorate.
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*The coup d'etat plot is being led by former Minister for Tourism, Salomón Shamah, whose US visa was reportedly revoked years ago for his involvement in Colombian drug trafficking.

   Minister Salomón Shamah

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PANAMANIAN COURT VALIDATES FINES AGAINST EXECUTIVES OF FINANCIAL PACIFIC

FROM THE - CHRONICLES Of Andrei Slavenkov Netherlands –  Analyst For Wanted SA ~ Contributed & Written By Kenneth Rijock ~

The Supreme Court of Justice approved a fine, of $500,000 and two of $300,000, levied by Panama's securities regulator against three executive of broker/dealer Financial Pacific, for auditing failures. $12m was diverted from the FP accounts, to Politically Exposed Persons, only to be mysteriously replaced, when questions arose about the transaction. A former vice president of Panama allegedly received $7m of the money.

Fines were levied against former FP executives West Valdés  Iván Clare and Oscar Rodríguez. Former President Ricardo Martinelli, and most of the ministers in his Cabinet allegedly made millions in illegal profits, through insider trading of securities of Petaquilla Gold Mine stock. The case was widely covered, when a whistle blower's civil and human rights were violated, when she was kept incommunicado in a Panamanian prison, and denied access to her attorneys and media.

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PANAMA - BALBINA HERRERA EXPOSES FINMECCANICA SCANDAL & GOES TO JAIL

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

PANAMANIAN POLITICIAN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS FOR PRIVACY LAW VIOLATIONS FOR DISCLOSING DAMAGING EMAILS IN FINMECCANICA SCANDAL

Balbina del Carmen Herrera Arauz, the leader of Panama's Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), has been sentenced to three years in prison for revealing the contents of emails that reportedly implicate Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal in the Finmeccanica bribery scandal.

 

Herrera, who is a former candidate for the presidency, released private e-mail messages in Panama's biggest scandal, in which individuals linked to Martinelli reportedly received large kickbacks, to be delivered to the Panamanian President, for government contracts.

 

Whether Martinelli will be charged with corruption in Italy, after he leaves office next year, is one of the more interesting debates in Panamanian politics.

 

Panama's fatally flawed criminal justice system rarely indicts or convicts the guilty, but Sra. Herrera may have been targeted for a specific purpose.

 

The problem is, it is difficult to ascertain whether she was charged because of the threat that her disclosures posed to Mr. Martinelli, or other factors.

 

Herrera was the 2009 presidential candidate who received substantial support from the late Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

 

She professes political views on the extreme left, and her election could have moved Panama into the Venezuela-Ecuador-Nicaragua orbit, and away from the influence of the United States.

 

She has been linked to Hezbollah, as well as to individuals who held power during the Noriega presidency. Do not expect her to cease her opposition to the present government.

 

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MURCIA ACCUSES PANAMA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND BUSINESS STEALING HIS MONEY

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

 
PONZI SCHEMER MURCIA SAYS MARTINELLI AND OTHER PANAMANIAN LEADERS STOLE FROM HIM

Convicted Colombian billion dollar Ponzi schemer, David Helmut Eduardo Murcia Guzmán, in an extensive interview, has named several of Panama's senior officials and politicians as members of an organized crime group that he refers to as Panama's Mafia, and asserts that several of them stole millions, or even billions,  of dollars entrusted to them.

 

Murcia has now gone public with information, previously reported here, regarding his extensive dealings with Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, and alleged that Martinelli, to whom he delivered a large amount of cash, is guilty of grand larceny.

 

Though Murcia's reputation for truth may be questionable, due to his multiple criminal convictions, and operation of an international Ponzi scheme that defrauded millions, other sources have repeatedly confirmed Murcia's claims that he lost literally billions of dollars to several prominent Panamanian businessmen and political figures.

 

You can take his statements with a grain of salt, but you cannot ignore the evidence.

 

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CANADA OFFICIALS GO AFTER CORRUPT PANAMA OFFICIALS

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

CANADA TO FILE INSIDER TRADING CHARGES AGAINST SENIOR PANAMANIAN OFFICIALS

Informed sources have disclosed that Canadian regulatory agencies intend to file insider trading and securities fraud charges against a number of senior Panamanian government officials shortly,  in connection with the Petaquilla Minerals Ltd./ Financial Pacific gold scandal.

 

Included in the reported targets are wealthy Panamanian businessmen, several of the republic's ministers, and even Panama's President has been linked to the investigation.

 

This action is being taken notwithstanding the fact that a Panamanian investigation reportedly cleared the PEPs named in local media.

 

The mining company's headquarters is in British Columbia, which confers jurisdiction upon Canadian securities regulators.

 

Canadian citizens are among those who sustained major losses in the Petaquilla scandal.

The fact that law enforcement action is imminent was reportedly leaked by unknown Canadian sources to global media; it was immediately reported in Panama.

 

What impact will the filing of charges against a large number of senior Panamanian PEPs have upon the upcoming presidential election in Panama ? More importantly, will the defendants named be detained, and sent to Vancouver for trial, and will this destabilize the government ?

 

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PANAMA RAPIDLY BECOMING LIKE VENEZUELA

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

 

 

 

CONCERN SURFACES REGARDING LOOMING INSTABILITY IN PANAMA IN 2014

 

Several experienced residential observers of the political scene in the Republic of Panama have expressed real concerns about the probability that the results of the 2014 Presidential Election will be manipulated to place power in the hands of the ruling party's chosen successor.

 

In essence, the fear is that President Martinelli, whose autocratic style of management of the country, will find a way to place his chosen one into office, and rule from the shadows.

 

The example has been cited of decades of questionable election returns in Venezuela, resulting in a virtual dictatorship, and Panamanians who wish to maintain democracy in their country are worried. I don't blame them. Many of them do not want a strongman-type rule in Panama again.

 

Compliance officers at banks whose clients are exposed in Panama should keep an eye on the forthcoming election, the results, and any civil disturbance that may arise in the aftermath, due to verified evidence of election fraud.

 

Panamanians are not afraid to take to the street if they have grievances, as we have seen in recent years, and President Martinelli does not refrain from having his security forces respond with a heavy hand.

 

The net worth could be chaos in Panama City in 2014, disrupting business and increasing risk levels.

 

 

 

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REPUBLIC OF PANAMA AT THE EDGE OF COLLAPSE.

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

RAISE COUNTRY RISK ON THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

There are two new issues that are causing me to recommend that you take a fresh look at Panama for risk management purposes:

 (1) President Martinelli, who leaves office next year, has reportedly not only chosen his successor, (from his own party, of course) but he is carefully filling the agency that monitors election results with his own people.

There is a real concern in Panama that the  results of the upcoming 2014 election will be rigged to give Martinelli's candidate the office, whether he wins the popular vote or not. Election fraud has become a real possibility, especially given the notorious level of corruption in the Supreme Court of Panama, which would rule on any contested election issues.

The response of the population could result in destabilizing Panama, meaning that the economy would suffer.

(2) The treasury of the Government of Panama has been so severely depleted, that it can no longer consistently pay its civil servants each month.

Observers have accused the leadership of the loss of approximately USD$800m, which cannot be accounted for, and which has pushed the country deep into debt.

There is a plan to sell government bonds in the EU and North America, but it faces obstacles. Fiscal problems could be reflected throughout Panama's economy.

These fiscal and political issues clearly raise risk levels at this time. You should examine the facts, and make an educated decision, on your own, as to whether to raise Country Risk for Panama, but I suggest that it is justified.

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PANAMA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FORBIDDEN TO TRAVEL TO U.S.A

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA   ~Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock ~

MANY PANAMANIAN PEPS ARE NO LONGER WELCOME IN THE UNITED STATES

The individual pictured above, on the left, Solomon Shamah, is the Panamanian Minister of Tourism. Yes, that is a Colombian mugshot, for the minister, a naturalized Panamanian, has been linked to arms trafficking in his native Colombia. The other individual, in the photo on the right, is Ramón Martinelli, a cousin of the Panamanian president; he was arrested for money laundering in Mexico.

The dirty little secret among Panama's governing elite: many Panamanian ministers have had their US visas revoked. This extreme action generally takes place only after the US Department of State receives evidence, from a law enforcement agency, that the subject is engaged in criminal activity. American authorities do not want individuals engaged in narcotics trafficking, or money laundering, visiting thre United States, where they could engage in further crimes, or in laundering their illicit wealth.

Some of the former Panamanian ministers have quietly, and quickly, resigned their offices, to avoid visa revocation, but others have decided to stay in power, and have lost their US visa privileges indefinitely. This is one of the reasons to avoid banking Panamanian PEPs, as many are under criminal investigation by American law enforcement agencies.

If you have a high net-worth Panamanian client who advises you that he is sending someone in his behalf, to your US bank, to conduct his banking business, you may want to find out whether he is no longer welcome to visit, and if so, what activities is he allegedly engaged in. Bank clients who hare barred from visiting the United States are too high risk to retain as customers.   

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PANAMA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS EXPOSED IN MULTI MILLION DOLLAR INSIDE TRADING SCANDAL

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA   ~Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock ~

SENIOR PANAMANIAN PEPS AND PRESIDENT ALL NOW HIGH RISK

The evidence disclosed by a Panamanian whistleblower, which has implicated most of the heads of the country's ministries, and its president, in a massive insider trading scandal, when you add in the other corruption issues, have effectively eliminated these individuals as suitable bank clients, hereafter unable to open or maintain any bank accounts outside of the Republic of Panama.

The Financial Pacific scandal, which continues to rock Panama, indicates that all the ministers, and the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, illegally earned millions of dollars, much of which is located in secret bank accounts not linked to its true owners.

Since senior PEPs often choose to have their subordinates move their dirty assets out of the country for safekeeping, I humbly suggest that compliance officers at international banks that observe any Panamanian nationals seeking to initiate a new account relationship, take a hard look at the new client; is he or she a PEP, by any broad definition of the term ? They may be attempting to hide these illicit profits outside Panama.

The prudent action is to decline their business, so long as corruption among ranking Panamanian officials remains the way they choose to do business.

One more point: You do not want to be named in North American media for banking illegal insider trading profits, when investigators from Canadian market regulatory agencies, such as IIROC, and the Ontario Securities Commission, or Canadian law enforcement agencies, come around, for the mining securities involved were traded in Canada.

Accepting any large deposits, from prominent Panamanian PEPs, at this time, is unwise. If you  do not fully understand why, ask your outside bank counsel to explain the potential for liability, as well as the potential for serious reputation damage.

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THE DARK SIDE OF THE FILTHY POLITIC IN PANAMA

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA   ~Contributed & Written by Olmedo Beluche

SOMETHING IS ROTTEN IN PANAMA.

There are times when one regrets not being Shakespeare or, at least, Corin Tellado because Panamanian politics is a tragicomedy that would for several soap operas.

The last week of May shook the country with a recording in which Roberto Velasquez allegedly responsible break His legs to its main rival, José Luis Fabrega, apparent candidate of economic power.

Recording it was known by a tweet released by the president, Ricardo Martinelli, before leaving on a trip whose first stop was the Grand Prix of Monaco, which suddenly appeared next to Prince Albert. The bizarre affair was settled with the forced resignation of Velasquez and Fabrega's victory in the primaries of the PRD.

The incident, which in another country would not actually isolated in Panama is a symptom of the decay of the political system and widespread corruption that spreads everywhere. In 2009, the scandals accompanied the election for mayor of Panama City.

We all remember the case of the meeting between Roberto Velasquez and David Murcia. The "burn" of Velasquez's victory led Bosco Vallarino, who broke the law, because he had given up the Panamanian citizenship. The National Assembly gave him citizenship retroactively. But Vallarino resigned after a meeting with Martinelli.

The controversial relationships Murcia reached Balbina Herrera and Ricardo Martinelli. He accused her to get her briefcase, she accused him of its supermarkets were part of the pyramid of Murcia. As always happens in Panama, elapsed elections, investigations were killed in a filing cabinet prosecutors. Back in 2013, Martinelli opened fire saying: "There is no more corrupt person in this country that Juan Carlos Navarro.

Soon they will start to go all the beauties of corruption Navarro "(The Press, 06/04/1013). And people with some logic question: Does the President who knows of a crime, but has not reported to the justice, is itself committing another crime? Or just about slander, which is also a crime? More and more people regard politicians as the most corrupt of society.

According to the Electoral Tribunal, Martinelli's campaign in 2009, spent nearly 20 million dollars and Balbina Herrera, another $ 10 million, a mayor is spent on campaign $ 200K and a deputy $ 300 billion. Vote buying and payment of consideration to be ordinary. All part of the decay of the capitalist system in Panama is reaching its climax. In this context of corruption and money, are in danger of drowning electorally new proposals alternatives to traditional party, if there is no unity in an electoral front left, popular and union that produces a shift in the electorate.

As political power gives access to a juicy public purse to hand, there are many willing to break bones in order to win at all costs. For now, like Horace (character Hamlet), it follows: "At what particular point I have to direct my thinking, is something I do not know, but according to the logic upon my understanding, this portends a strange commotion in our State "
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PANAMA HAS A NEW DICTATOR | RICARDO MARTINELLI

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

PANAMA LURCHES TOWARDS DICTATORSHIP, AGAIN

In an unguarded moment, or perhaps one of absolute candor, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, when asked by an interviewer recently whether he feared foreign interferences in his domestic affairs, due to his increasingly heavy-handed method of governing the Republic. He replied that, with the 30,000 militiamen*, all bearing state-of-the-art arms, purchased from Eastern Bloc countries, there would be no intervention, or threats of the same, from other nations.

He may have underestimated the world's democracies; the European Union (EU) has strongly protested the latest Martinelli power move, having his controlled legislature pass a new law requiring that all future Panamanian corporations be 75% owned by Panamanian nationals. Given Panama's Bearer Shares law, a subsequent transfer of a Panamanian national's share to an unknown, and unapproved third party, would be simple, and would expose the foreign investor to a drug trafficking, or terrorist financier, bedfellow. No wonder foreign investors are upset.

The United States has reportedly several criminal investigations pending, and the targets are believed to include several sitting ministers. Whether the president himself is included is not known, though there are continued media references linking him to convicted Colombia Ponzi schemer, David Eduardo Helmut Murcia Guzmán, who placed at least two billion dollars into Panamanian assets before his arrest and extradition, most of which has not yet been recovered.

Let me leave you with this final note: President Martinelli has let it be known whom his hero is: Benito Mussolini; As a matter of fact, Martinelli personally prefers to be known by that Italian dictator's nickname; Il Duce**. I rest my case.

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* After the fall of General Noriega, Panama abolished its Army, and created the small Public Forces.  but President Martinelli, with his well-armed border police, and locally-recruited Militia, composed in part of former military, has effectively restored Panama to its prior military capability. What does he need an army for ?

** The Leader.

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Ruling the Country or Ruining the Country ? | PANAMA | Ricardo Martinelli

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Written & Contributed By Jonathan Stempel

 

PANAMA'S PRESIDENT INTENDS TO WIELD POWER AFTER LEAVING OFFICE

In a revealing interview this week, the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, has admitted that he does not plan to relinquish power after he leaves office next year. To the contrary, through his many ministerial and agency head appointments, for long terms, and by retaining the presidency for the ruling CD party, he fully intends to continue to control the Republic of Panama for the foreseeable future, much in the same manner as did the former Panamanian strongman, General Manuel Noriega.

Given that the laundering of narcotics profits, as well as the movement of funds for designated terrorist organisations, continues to be rampant throughout the Panamanian financial system, a continuation of the Martinelli policies, which have basically ignored anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, ostensibly in order to maximise new construction and grow the national economy, seem to be the shape of things to come.

Since the Panamanian Government will surely not be charging those of its ministers involved with drug trafficking, insider trading, and various forms of corruption, anytime soon, you are advised that risk levels for Panama, especially those financial institutions engaged in money laundering or terrorist financing, is subject to rapid increase, should OFAC sanctions, or indictments, be issued by the United States. You also should be aware that those ministers, their leader, and a large number of Panamanian PEPs could very well be charged in Miami or New York or Washington, just when they think they are immune.

 Please factor these possibilities carefully into your calculation of Country Risk for Panama, and do not overextend yourself with its banks.

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Panama Corporation Shipping To Iran And Breaking Sanctions.

 FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

 

PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT'S COMPANY SHIPPING GOODS TO IRAN

We all know that that the president of the Republic of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli Linares, is the owner of the Super 99 supermarket chain, but did you know that his international trading company is shipping goods to Iran ? Is this one of the reasons that Martinelli is under criminal investigation by a number of American law enforcement agencies ?

Importadora Ricamar Panama SA*, a Panamanian company run by Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, the son of the Panamanian president, ships twenty or more containers, per month, to Venezuela. Those containers are then quietly transshipped to Iran, in clear violation of international sanctions imposed by the United Nations, and many other countries.

Luis Enrique Martinelli

If there was any doubt that Martinelli owns and controls the import/export company, the Super 99 trademark itself was registered in the United States by Importadora Ricamar, as owner.

When the president of a country is found to be regularly evading international sanctions on Iran, he is no longer fit for public service.
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* The name, Ricamar, from Ricardo Martinelli.

FINMECCANICA SPREADS ITS CANCER OF CORRUPTION WORLDWIDE.

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~

Finmeccanica Rapes & Pillages Latin America

Finmeccanica, the Italian conglomerate, allegedly pushed through corrupt defense deals not merely in India. Its sooty footprints cover Panama, Brazil and perhaps also Indonesia.

The Panamanian contract involved a sale of six helicopters for the Navy, radars for coastal surveillance and digital mapping system. The aggregate worth of the purchase deal was pegged at $253 million.

The then Italian Prime Minister flew down to Panama City to ink the deal with Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli on June 30, 2010. The suppliers were AgustaWestland, Selex Sistemi and Telespazio — all subsidiaries of Finmeccanica.

Panama was happy to receive six maritime patrol boats as freebies from Italy. But soon a controversy erupted as it became widely known that the three companies were actually part of the same conglomerate.

The purchase orders, placed directly without mandatory tendering, were processed through a single agent Valter Lavitola. Valter Lavitola, the face of Finmeccanica in Panama, was a close confidante of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Later on it was discovered that Lavitola actually had plans to blackmail Berlusconi for €5 million in the ‘Tarantini sex scandal’. Arrested in April 2012, Lavitola is now facing charges of bribery and money laundering. Panama was outraged when it was found that the coastal surveillance radars were grossly overpriced.

The Latin American nation got 5o radars for $125 million. It was obscenely high when compared with Turkey’s. Turkey had recently procured the same gadget in same quantity from the same company for a mere $33 million. This artificial over-invoicing is suspected to be a ploy to generate slush funds for political purpose.

The then Selex Sistemi Chief Marina Grossi is now facing charges of false invoicing and embezzlement. Her husband Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, Chairman of Finmeccanica for nine years, felt compelled to step down in December 2011. He was replaced by Giuseppe Orsi. Paolo Pozzesere, the then Commercial Director of Finmeccanica was also arrested from Naples in October 2012 to stand trial.

It is perhaps no coincidence that investigations gathered steam after Italian Mario Monti became the Prime Minister on November 9, 2011. The Government of Italy, which owns 30 per cent shares in Finmeccanica, considers the scandals spanning Panama, Brazil and India a slur on its image. But Monti’s discredited predecessor Berlusconi apparently had other ideas. His recent exclamation that bribery is an accepted part of defense deals worldwide is no faux pas.

His complicity is becoming quite apparent. His trusted political aides are coming under the cloud. The investigating magistrates Vincenzo Piscitelli and Henry John Woodcock have in their possession a taped telephone conversation between Pozzesero and Berlusconi. In that taped conversation dated July 7, 2011 Berlusconi is heard suggesting a $600 million transport aircraft deal with Indonesian Air Force to benefit Finmeccanica. Claudio Scajola, a trusted Minister in Berlusconi Cabinet, is under probe over a shady contract for supplying naval frigates to Brazil.

Finmeccanica and Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company based inTrieste, had entered into negotiations with the Brazilian Government for supply of 11 military frigates. Scajola, being Minister for economic development, should have no legitimate concern with the deal. But his personal friendship with then Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim apparently helped the deal.

Lorenzo Borgogni, former Director, Industrial Relations, Finmeccanica has told the investigating magistrates that the Brazilian deal involved “11 per cent return” (kickback). Scajola incidentally resigned from his post Berlusconi Government in a private housing project scandal. With Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi arrested and being probed over supply of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters to India, the conglomerate’s finesse for corruption lies exposed.

No wonder the developments in India are being closely followed in Panama where Lavitola is now testifying against President Martinelli and his Administration who received millions of dollars of bribes from Finmeccanica and their associates.

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PANAMA PRESIDENT EXPANDS MONKEY MAFIA.

FROM THE - JOURNALS of Monte Friesner – Criminal & Intelligence Analyst and Consulaire for WANTED SA ~ Contributed & Written by Kenneth Rijock

PANAMANIAN MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS AFFECT COUNTRY RISK

Though he will be leaving office shortly, in 2014, Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli has recently made several ministerial appointments, some for terms as long as seven years.

What he has done is more than just assure that his policies and programmes survive into the next president's administration; it is something far more disturbing.

Some of the newly appointed cabinet ministers are linked to Panama's powerful Syrian organized crime group.

This criminal organization has successfully placed its members into every government agency and department in the Republic of Panama, where they act as an early-warning system for exposure of the group's corrupt activities, and easily derail any and all enquiries into their associates' crimes.

 A number of these new ministers, who wield a substantial amount of authority in their respective agencies and ministries, will therefore be able to perpetuate the widespread corruption that currently exists in Panama; reform by the incoming administration will be frustrated, and Country Risk will remain at elevated levels for the foreseeable future.

READ MORE ON : www.wantedsa.com