A Panama City judge ordered preventive detention for two local officials this week. They face charges linked to a fraudulent check scheme worth nearly half a million dollars. The case involves the community board of the Arnulfo Arias district and a falsified check from a public university.
Guarantees Judge Didia Ruiz issued the ruling against the board’s representative, Dario Gonzalez, and its treasurer, Raul Pacheco. The charges include financial crimes and money laundering. The decision followed a request from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigators allege the officials cashed a fake check for $492,000. The check was purportedly issued by the Autonomous University of Chiriqui (Unachi) and processed at the National Bank of Panama. The funds were then allegedly split into 30 separate transactions.
“The investigation established that community board officials sent a driver with three altered checks to cash at the bank,” a prosecution statement said. [Translated from Spanish]
Judge Ruiz also imposed periodic reporting requirements on two bank employees and the board’s driver. The driver, Gustavo Lopez, was reportedly tasked with presenting the checks. Only one of the three altered checks passed the bank’s security checks, prosecutors confirmed.
Investigation Traces Check Fraud to University Documents
Authorities connected the fake checks to an actual checkbook belonging to Unachi. How the checkbook was accessed or who altered the documents remains unclear. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) are leading the ongoing probe.
Their current focus is determining how the suspects obtained the university check model. They are also investigating who delivered the falsified instruments to the junta comunal officials for cashing.
Defense lawyers for Gonzalez and Pacheco immediately announced plans to appeal the preventive detention order. The appeal hearing is scheduled for February 5 before the Superior Court of Appeals.
This case highlights continued scrutiny of local governance in Panama. The Arnulfo Arias district, named for a former president, is a central area in the capital. Its community board manages local funds and projects for residents.
Prosecutors did not specify the intended destination of the $492,000. The fragmentation of the sum into numerous transactions is a common technique for obscuring the trail of illicit funds. This method complicates financial forensic work.
The involvement of the National Bank of Panama, a state-owned commercial bank, adds a significant layer to the case. It raises questions about internal verification protocols for large checks. The two bank employees now under court supervision handled the transaction’s processing.
Legal observers note the judge’s application of preventive detention indicates a perceived flight risk or potential for evidence tampering. This legal measure keeps defendants in custody while investigations proceed. It is often used in cases involving substantial sums or complex financial schemes.
This incident follows other political controversies linked to the legacy of Arnulfo Arias. The community board bearing his name is now entangled in a serious legal matter. The upcoming appeal will be the next critical step in the judicial process.
The case also intersects with broader economic concerns in Panama, similar to issues raised by figures like Juan Manuel in other sectors. It underscores the persistent challenge of financial crime at various levels of administration. The February 5 hearing will determine if the detained officials remain in custody as their case develops.