THE OUTGOING Rector of the University of Panama who stands to get an extra $80,000 retirement bonus from a deal  he stick handled through just six days before the election for his replacement, may never get his hands on the jackpot.

Panama’s Comptroller  Federico Humbert has added his voice to the widespread chorus condemning what is perceived as an immoral act. He said  he will do everything possible to reject a proposed bonus for professors retiring from the University of Panama (UP) at the age of 75.

"We will do everything in our power to suspend such payments," said Humbert on Friday, August 19. He said that he is already preparing a legal challenge to the bonus to be presented to the Supreme Court.

The agreement was published Wednesday in the Government Gazette, which increased the maximum bonus from six to 15 months of a person's salary and decreased the number of years to be served before a beneficiary became eligible..

"It is wrong, it is illegal, it is immoral and it was done without shame by a group to reward themselves," said the comptroller.

Humbert said he can challenge the payment as being against the economic well-being of the state. He said the payment will prevent the UP from hiring new staff because it has not been accounted for in next year's budget.