Panamanian justice has issued a ruling in the case of the disappearance of 34 checks from the Treasury Department of the National Institute for Professional Training and Capacity Building for Human Development (INADEH), an event recorded in 2019 during the administration of Juan Carlos Varela. The case involved 18 defendants, who faced charges for crimes against public faith and negligent embezzlement, affecting the entity’s payroll funds.
Following the mid-term hearing held on September 11 and 13, the court decided to suspend the proceedings against one of the defendants for a period of three years, on condition that they return to the National Treasury the amount corresponding to the cashed checks. In addition, two other defendants reached plea agreements with the Prosecutor’s Office, resulting in prison sentences and fines.
One of the convicted men received a 48-month prison sentence and a fine of one thousand balboas, which was to be paid to the National Treasury after the sentence was executed. However, the defense requested that the sentence be commuted, leaving it at 200 days’ fine, that is, a total of $500 that must be paid within a period of eight months.
Another of the accused, who also reached a plea agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and 2 years of disqualification from holding public office. This person was granted temporary house arrest due to her health condition.
