They form a legislative subcommission to analyze bill 625 on asset forfeiture

This Wednesday, a legislative subcommittee was formed, in order to analyze Bill 625, which establishes the figure of domain extinction in the country.

This was arranged on the first day of discussion of the aforementioned project in the Government, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Commission of the National Assembly.

The subcommittee will be chaired by deputy Roberto Ábrego, who will be accompanied by his colleagues Crispiano Adames and Juan Diego Vásquez. The subcommittee was not given a specific deadline to complete the analysis of the project.

During the session, the PRD deputy Víctor Castillo, who chairs said legislative commission, said that they will give “as much time as possible” for the debate of this initiative.

The bill on asset forfeiture establishes a legal framework that allows the State to recover assets acquired illegally, strengthening the mechanisms for the administration of justice, explained Jonathan Riggs, secretary general of the Ministry of Public Security, during the presentation of the bill.

This tool has been integrated into the legislation of other countries such as Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia and Mexico, depriving organized crime of its financial resources and eliminating its ability to expand, Riggs added.

In the opinion of the Minister of Public Security, Juan Manuel Pino, there is a willingness to endorse this project, which he presented to the National Assembly on April 28, 2021.

“Many do not like this law, we are going to step hard, but we know that this law is needed in Panama,” said Pino.

He added that “the power that organized crime has is very great,” so this project seeks to reduce its “financial muscle.” “It is not a law taken from pockets, we believe that this law will be important,” he remarked.

The official warned that if Panama does not take this step, the consequences “could be fatal.”