The Third Criminal Case Settlement Court suspended on Monday, January 16, the trial of Adolfo 'Chichi' De Obarrio and 16 other people for the alleged embezzlement to the detriment of the extinct National Aid Program (PAN) through a contract for the purchase of backpacks that would be delivered to public school students.

The trial was scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. but was interrupted after one of the defense lawyers appealed the evidence order that had to be evaluated during the process.

The first judge of criminal cases, Agueda Renteria, sent the appeal to the Superior Court of Settlement to resolve it and then set a new trial date.

For this case, De Obarrio was notified by the Court so that he was duly represented.

De Obarrio,  the former private secretary of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli also faces a process for the alleged commission of the crime of illicit enrichment.

He is currently a fugitive in Italy which has no extradition treaty with Panama.