The Superior Court of Appeals of the First Judicial District confirmed the personal precautionary measure of provisional detention applied to 13 people accused of the alleged commission of the crime against collective security, as part of the so-called “Operation Chivo”.
This operation managed to reveal the alleged links of six officials of the National Air and Naval Service (Senan) with a drug trafficking network.
The court’s decision was adopted at an appeal hearing that took place on January 31 and ended on Friday, February 4, 2022.
This court – made up of judges Giovannina Antinori (president), Gustavo De Gracia and Greta Marchosky – also revoked the personal precautionary measures of provisional detention for three people and, instead, set the periodic report (twice a week) and the ban on leaving the country. Nor will they be able to approach the Senan facilities and the PSA port in Rodman. Likewise, they may not maintain communications by any means with other investigators.
At the hearing, the Public Ministry was represented by prosecutor Joseph Díaz. The technical defense of the accused was exercised by 14 lawyers between individuals and public.
Investigations into this case began in April 2021.
As part of this operation, 34 raids were carried out in the provinces of Panama, West Panama, Veraguas and Colon. They managed to seize firearms, money, bulletproof vests, vehicles and uniforms of security forces.
