PANAMA’S FORMER MINISTER of Economy and Finance, Frank De Lima, left the offices of The First Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, Tania Sterling, in handcuffs on Monday May 11

After an eight hour grilling, Sterling filed charges for the alleged crime of embezzlement and ordered Lima, kept in preventative detention.

He is the highest ranked former official of the Ricardo Martinelli administration to be moved  behind bars in the investigation for alleged irregularities in the sale of grain through the National  Assistance Program (PAN).

Lima is also leader of the Democratic Change Party (CD), founded, financed and led by Martinelli as he rose to power. He  left at the  Avesa building, headquarters of the prosecution, handcuffed and guarded by agents of the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ).

His defense lawyer,  Eduardo Sequeira  did not comment to the media as he left the prosecutor’s office

The complaint for possible embezzlement in the sale of grain to PAN was filed in late 2014 by the current PAN  director Rafael Stanziola, who then calculated the amount of illicit amounted to $1.7 million, after negotiation of nearly $5 million in grains.

As part of the investigations the former head of PAN Rafael Guardia Jaen was interrogated , and the prosecution has laid charges of embezzlement against 32 others.

This investigation uncovered that Guardia Jaén had deposits in local and foreign banks, , and other assets worth more than $18 million.

Statements given by, Guardia  Jaen said  that because the PAN budget had insufficient funds, then Martinelli instructed the MEF to transfer the funds for purchases.

The transactions had to go through the Budget Committee of the Assembly, since any transfer of more than $300 million  starting must have the approval of the legislature. However, to avoid this process purchases of up to $4 million were broken down to amounts of $ 299 000  he said.

This led the First Anticorruption Prosecutor to file charges of embezzlement against De Lima.

According to the record, contracts for the purchase of grains were granted between 2012 and 2014.

One of the most substantial-for $4.5 million- was awarded to the Hialing Corporation, SA by Executive Order No. 057-2014 March 27, 2014. This company is tied to the brother of Ricardo Martinelli, businessman Mario Martinelli, who, however, denies this reports La Prensa.

In the case of rice, each quintal was acquired for $80 a unit, when the price was $49.

Lentils, which were purchased at $ 100 a quintal, when the local price was $55. Chiricanos beans, were purchased for $110, although the real cost was $76 a quintal.

Guardia  Jaen revealed to the  prosecution the modus operandi of the network that was behind the sale of grain to the PAN in which three companies from the same source made bids.  One of the companies met all the conditions to win the contract; in this case, to sell sacks of lentils, beans and beans.

Guardia  Jaen admitted receiving "benefits" -coimas- for orders granted.

Guardia  Jaen also revealed the relationship of Roberto Brin of  Super 99, owned by the Martinelli family with suppliers who were received purchase orders. "He was the one who organized companies with dignitaries of the same companies that were assigned the orders," he testified.

ROLL CALL
Among the 32 accused by prosecutors are  ex-comptroller  Gioconda Torres de Bianchini; Chichi Adolfo De Obarrio, private secretary to Ricardo Martinelli, and Angel Famiglietti, former chief of Nutrition PAN.

De Obarrio fled the country on December 25, 2014

Also charged are  entrepreneurs: Mario Martinelli, Roberto Brin, Desirée Aranda González, Pablo Ruiz Obregón, Práxedis Pinzón, Mara del Carmen Vergara, Aldo Mangravita Fernández Miranda, Félix Fernández Miranda Cerjack, Roberto Pérez, Manuel Ríos Correa, Diego De Ycaza, Harold Acevedo, Edwin Fernández Ramos, José Gutiérrez, Brígida Caballero, Milcíades Guerra, Marcela Pardo, Yolanda Rangel, José Coparropa, Adrián Guardia Chang, Jorge González Sevillano, Maribel Sandoya Romero, Lineth Salazar Him, Ángelo Herrera, Guillermo Burbano Murillo, Zuleika Rodríguez Chérigo, Yulius Chen Castillo, Jennifer Barría Pérez y Vanesa Isabel Ríos.