What appeared to be a sweetheart land deal in which the uncle of former  Panama president Martin Torrijos  got 30 hectares of state land for $15,000 is being investigated by the Public Ministry.

Rodolfo "Charro" Espino, got the land in Punt Chame in December 2004.
The sale, which began in 2003 during the rule of Mireya Moscoso and was completed in 2004 during the government of Martín Torrijos, never received the endorsement of the Court of Auditors.
Former Comptroller Alvin Weeden confirmed that he twice refused to sign the transaction because he considered the price to be "ridiculous."
Espino, purchased nearly 30 hectares for less than $15,000. The transaction was registered in the Public Registry but without the signature of the comptroller.
The Public Ministry is investigating current Land Registry official Publio Cortés for his role in the case. Cortés was Deputy Minister of Finance during Moscoso's administration.
Cortés has denied any connection with the transaction, and presented his own story to authorities yesterday.
In 2008 Espino faced criminal charges for ecological damage for destroying 38 hectares of mangroves in Punta Chame. The case was dismissed by the first judge , but re-opened by the Supreme Court which said the original trial had not been conducted properly.