A TOP ADVISOR to President Juan Carlos Varela whose law firm has been linked to corruption scandals in Brazil and Spain  has stepped down.

Ramón Fonseca announced Friday, March 11 via his Twitter account that he is taking a leave of absence.

The decision was confirmed in a statement released by the Secretary of State Communication.

Fonseca has been  an advisor to President Varela since he took office July 1, 2014. He is also the acting president of the Panameñista party.

Fonseca is a co-founder of the law firm of Mossack Fonseca. The firm has been implicated in corruption scandals in both Brazil in Spain.

The latest eruption came  on Froday  when Spanish prosecutors requested information from Panama about shell companies linked to Ignacio González.

González allegedly purchased a luxury apartment in London while holding public office. The purchase of that property was allegedly hidden behind a shell company created by Mossack Fonseca.

According to a story in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the transaction involved money laundering.

-