Panama - Three individuals linked to an investigation into a nearly one-million-dollar embezzlement against the National Bank were apprehended this Monday during the development of Operation Nafta II. The operation, carried out by units from the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) and personnel from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, took place in the corregimientos of Tocumen, 24 de Diciembre, Don Bosco, and the El Crisol sector. During the action, several pieces of evidence were recovered and a firearm was seized. The suspects are being investigated for the alleged commission of crimes against the public administration in the form of embezzlement, against public faith in the form of document forgery, and against the economic order in the form of money laundering. "Once the funds become effective, they are stratified through the exchange of checks to third parties, who manage to exchange checks for amounts over $25,000 in cash," detailed the Ministry of Public Prosecution. According to data from the Ministry of Public Prosecution, this group forged and exchanged two checks drawn from a National Bank account, for amounts of $490,000 each, totaling a loss of $980,000. Some of the implicated individuals work in state institutions. Through the investigation of this case, which began in January of this year, it has been possible to link and charge six other people, three of whom remain under provisional detention. The funds were subsequently deposited and transferred to various bank accounts.
