Son of Panamanian deputy moved to house arrest

Abraham Rico Pineda, the son of deputy Raúl Pineda, has been in provisional detention for over 18 months. He was arrested on August 20, 2024, by National Police agents in front of the offices of the Accusatory Penal System in Plaza Ágora, in the capital. On the same day, a judge legalized his arrest and charged him with money laundering and drug-related crimes as part of the so-called Operation Jericho. The Prosecutor's Office alleged that Rico Pineda used companies like Servicios Múltiples Rama to launder funds allegedly derived from drug trafficking, based on telephone transcripts and financial analysis. Instead of remaining in provisional detention, he will now serve his house arrest. Relatives and close acquaintances received the resolution with relief, confirming that there are currently no evidence linking him to the investigated crimes. Operation Jericho, which began on June 30, 2023, aimed to dismantle a criminal network allegedly dedicated to international drug trafficking and money laundering. The decision puts an end to months of uncertainty and marks a significant turning point in the case.