The former representative of the Cristóbal Este district, Edgar Góndola, and the former treasurer of the communal board, Osvaldo Mejía, were placed under provisional detention following an initial hearing held at the Accusatory Penal System (SPA) in Colón, for the alleged aggravated embezzlement. Góndola, who held the position during the previous administration and is a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), appeared before the judge along with Mejía in a proceeding held behind closed doors. At the end of the hearing, both the defense of the accused and the Public Ministry avoided making statements to the media. According to investigations by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, an audit detected irregularities in the management of public funds of the Cristóbal Communal Board, with a possible economic damage amounting to $339,729.64. It was reported that the defense filed an appeal against the provisional detention measure, which will be evaluated at a hearing scheduled for January 29.
