The president of the Colón Chamber of Commerce, María Eugenia Ramos Ramos, is facing formal criminal charges. The Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the charges during a hearing on Tuesday, January 27. Prosecutors allege she issued a check without sufficient funds.
Ramos was apprehended on Monday, January 26, following an investigation. The Judicial Investigation Directorate had requested her presence since January 21. She spent the night at a DIJ facility in Colón, Panama before being transferred for her hearing.
Prosecution Details Alleged Economic Crimes
The hearing before a guarantee judge began at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Prosecutors from the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office Against Collective Security and Economic Order are leading the case. They are specifically seeking charges for crimes against collective security and the economic order.
This legal action against a prominent business leader has sent ripples through the local commercial community. The Colón Chamber of Commerce represents a key economic zone in the country.
“The fiscal will request her indictment for the alleged commission of crimes against collective security and the economic order.” [Translated from Spanish]
Details regarding the check’s amount and the involved parties remain under investigation. The case continues to develop as judicial authorities examine the evidence. This proceeding follows other recent high-profile financial crime cases in Panama, including the Juan Manuel report.
The prosecution’s focus on “economic order” suggests a potentially broad legal interpretation. This area of law, often referenced in political contexts like when Panama’s president congratulated a foreign leader on economic order and stability, deals with financial system integrity.
Ramos’s legal team is expected to present its defense arguments during the hearing. The judge will determine if the case proceeds to trial. Her role as a guild leader adds a significant layer of public interest to the proceedings.
This story is developing and will be updated with new information from the judicial hearing. The outcome could impact leadership within the Colón business sector.