Lawyer Carlos Carrillo deeply regretted the head of the National Police, Omar Pinzón, had lent himself to authorize an "unnecessary police deployment" of control units for the raid proceedings that were ordered against Importadora Ricamar, S.A. (Super 99) headquarters, in Río Abajo.
"It cannot be possible the police head should feel comfortable with the use of resources needed in other places, and use these in a case which is already in progress. That can only be called institutional mockery" said the lawyer of former President Ricardo Martinelli in statements he made through NEXtv.
The proceedings were ordered by Judge Harry Díaz, acting as judge of guarantees in the case of Cobranzas del Istmo, and executed by judge Prosecutor Abel Zamorano, who was accompanied by specialized police personnel, including anti-gang units.
A statement, issued at Mr. Zamorano´s office, explained that the mission of police officers was "to locate and retrieve the accounting books at the company concerned, as well as any other accounting documents belonging to the 2009-2014 period ".
In this sense, Mr. Carrillo explained that for months the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), acting as plaintiff of this case, "has submitted the company to auditing and inspection processes" so " it is just not justified that a deployment such as the one carried out yesterday (Tuesday) should have ever taken place".
He added that during all this time it has been demonstrated that Ricamar Company has nothing to do with this case.
"How can we do to prevent that justice and the people who want to fish in troubled waters from harming the system?” Mr. Carrillo questioned.
"They are still seeking to affect an economic group of more than 6,000 workers. This has been very negative and the fragility of the system of Justice in Panama, has once more become evident “said the lawyer.
Intriguing political backdrop
Lawyer Alejandro Pérez mentioned that the police force deployment came to reinforce "the political persecution" undertaken by the Varela administration against everything that has to do with former President Martinelli.
Yesterday noon, Super 99 workers demonstrated their opposition against the Court action, protesting with signs at several branch offices, like Plaza Carolina, Valle Hermoso, La Chorrera, as well as Penonome and Chiriquí.
Legal actions
Carlos Carrillo confirmed that, after this raid, the defense of Martinelli "will file a series of legal actions in the next few days” regardless of the legal actions that the company´s lawyers could undertake.
