Historic Sentence in Panama for Merchant's Falsified Safety Documents

An Asian-origin merchant operating a laundry in a shopping center in Arraiján was found to have falsified a hermeticity test in 2024. According to firefighters, this constitutes a serious offense and poses a high risk to public safety, an action classified in the penal code. The merchant was initially granted a penal substitute after being sentenced to 48 months in prison for falsifying the hermeticity test. The Panama Fire Department reported this on its website. Ultimately, the merchant was sentenced to 48 months in prison, plus a one-year disqualification, a ruling that firefighters describe as a 'historical judicial precedent.' According to the Fire Department's statement, this case reaffirms their commitment, through DINASEPI, to ensure strict compliance with safety standards and to protect the lives, property, and integrity of citizens. It sends a clear message of zero tolerance for practices that endanger the population. 'This marks a relevant precedent in terms of security, fire prevention, and legal responsibility, especially regarding the falsification of technical documents related to gas and fuel systems,' the Meritorious Fire Department of Panama stated. The firefighters explain that initially, the trial court agreed to apply a penalty substitute equivalent to B/.2.00 per day, totaling B/.800.00, to be paid over a 6-month period. For the firefighters, this was 'a figure that raised questions due to the severity of the potential damage resulting from this irresponsible behavior.' However, the Fire Department notes that an 'agreement was reached for a main penalty of 1,200 balboas (equivalent to B/3.00 daily for 400 days of fines), in addition to the imposed sentence.' The hearing for this case took place last Tuesday with some interruptions, as it appears the merchant did not bring a translator, so the court offered alternatives to ensure due process. Despite the verdict, the business continues to operate within one of the largest shopping centers in the Arraiján district, representing a considerable risk. A potential explosion could have major consequences for the population and nearby infrastructure. The department added that personnel from the National Directorate of Fire Safety, Prevention, and Investigation (DINASEPI) and the command detected the document alteration, specifically in the institutional logo and signature, leading to a formal complaint being filed the same year.