The Directorate of the Panama newspaper La Prensa has denounced a fake news story and image and the illegitimate use of its brand  circulating on social networks.

The message shows a doctored front page of Panama’s leading investigative newspaper with a headline saying that President Juan Carlos Varela was the recipient of  $350 million in bribes  from Odebrecht.

The headline  sits alongside a photo of Varela and the Odebrecht offices

In a statement Corprensa  said: “The information falsely emulates the image of the newspaper”

The company is studying legal action.