ANOTHER  16  people  have been charged  in connection with the investigation into corruption in Panama’s Supreme  Court.

The new arrests bring the total number of suspects in the case to 29.

The latest round of arrests included members of a jury in a murder trial who apparently admitted to accepting money to issue a decision in favor of the defendants.

A source linked to the investigation told La Prensa  that those charged have been ordered not to leave the country.

The first round of arrests were made November 12. They included court officials.

Theinvestigation was initiated by a complaint from Supreme Court Chief Justice José Ayú Prado. The criminal court authorized prosecutors to use wiretaps to obtain evidence in the case.