Virzi facing grilling in irrigation scandal

 
830Views 0Comments Posted 09/09/2015

Accused LAWYERS for Porfirio "Bolita" Ellis will be able to cross examine Felipe "Pipo" Virzi in the case involving alleged corruption in the failed irrigation project in Tonosí, Los Santos.

Former Vice-president Virzi is currently under house arrest and his name has sufaced in other major investigations, including The Financial Pacific brokerage scandal.
The decision was based on an order from the 14th Criminal Court based on a motion submitted by Ellis' lawyer Javier Quintero.
Prosecutors had denied a similar request on July 14. But Judge José Carrera, in resolution issued Aug. 28, said the cross-examination is necessary to clarify Ellis' connection to the case reports La Prensa.
The judge told Prosecutor Zuleyka Moore that she is obligated to "investigate favorable and unfavorable evidence in relation to the accused."
The contract for the irrigation project was issued in 2012 to the company Hidalgo & Hidalgo in the amount of $155 million. However, the work was never carried out despite the company being paid $37 million.
Also accused in the matter are Juan Francisco Hurtado and Marcos Albán, of Hidalgo & Hidalgo, former ministers of Agricultural Development Óscar Osorio and Emilio Kieswetter, former Ministry of Economy and Finance official Aurelio Mejia, and Julio Terrientes, Juan Moreno, Rodman Richard, Luis González and Julio Miller.