A judge in Panama’s Chiriquí province has ordered the suspension of a university dean from her positions following allegations of a significant salary fraud scheme. The ruling against Dr. Evelia Aparicio de Esquivel, former dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi), was handed down this week after a hearing in the local Accusatory Penal System.
The judicial measure mandates her immediate removal from both her dean and teaching roles. Prosecutors from Panama’s Public Ministry presented evidence alleging she collected dual public salaries improperly from 2017 through 2021. This case centers on the crime of embezzlement, known locally as peculado, against the state.
Details of the Alleged Salary Scheme
Authorities claim the scheme involved Aparicio de Esquivel simultaneously holding a physician position at the David Polyclinic while serving as dean and professor at the university’s medical school. The Public Ministry (Panama) estimates the total financial damage to the state could exceed 375,000 balboas, equivalent to the same amount in U.S. dollars. These funds were allegedly collected during the period she held the positions in what prosecutors call an improper manner.
“The alleged embezzlement could be superior to 375 thousand balboas from the money collected during the period she exercised these roles in an inadequate form,” the Public Ministry stated. [Translated from Spanish]
The prosecution had initially requested pretrial detention, arguing the defendant posed a flight risk and could potentially destroy documents or pressure university staff. The judge of guarantees from the Third Judicial District instead imposed the suspension of duties as a precautionary measure. Both the defense and prosecution have filed appeals against this decision.
An appeal hearing is now scheduled for December 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. This next phase within Panama’s sistema penal will determine if the suspension order stands. The case continues to develop as investigators compile a full financial audit.
Institutional Impact and Next Steps
The suspension immediately disrupts leadership at the Autonomous University of Chiriquí medical faculty. University administrators must now appoint an interim dean to ensure continuity for students and academic programs. This legal proceeding also casts a spotlight on public payroll controls across Panama’s state-funded institutions.
Legal experts note the case will test the application of accountability measures for high-ranking officials in academia. The court’s choice of suspension over detention suggests it weighed the specific circumstances presented. All parties now prepare their arguments for the 2025 appeal date, a timeline that allows for extensive case review.
This investigation forms part of broader efforts by Panamanian authorities to address integrity within public service roles. The outcome could influence future protocols for verifying dual employment and preventing similar conflicts of interest. For now, the university community awaits the judicial process while managing the sudden vacancy in a key academic office.