Public Ministry investigates Fonseca Mora half-heartedly

The Attorney General of the Republic of Panama, Kenia Porcell, only yesterday confirmed that the  Public Ministry had opened an investigation following the complaints lodged by law firm Mossack &  Fonseca, but only insofar as it relates to the lost all confidential information, and not for the  implications of its supposed conduct.

It took four full days for for the Atty. General to react, and only to state rather timidly that her office would “investigate what that law permits”.

The Public Ministry’s questionable reaction has led to a torrent of criticism - among it, that of the President of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede, in Spanish), Ms. Morabia Guerrero. According to Ms. Guerrero, “this is a company-specific issue and the company in question most certainly has to be investigated”.

Full his part, Carlos Pérez Herrera, Secretary General of the Partido Revolucionario Democrático (PRD), yesterday suggested that the Panama Paper issue should be dealt with internationally, while the Public Ministry investigates law firm Mossack & Fonseca. Pérez Herrera argued that the majority of companies incorporated by Mossack and Fonseca have become involved in an international scandal, “which warrants swift action on the part of the Public Ministry, since the integrity of the whole country is at stake.” He added: “Panama cannot act as if it were the United States of America, expecting equal treatment from the international community. Hitting out against France makes no sense strategically.”