Expert Witness in the Odebrecht Trial Prepared a Report without Reviewing Financial Statements. Expert witness Antonio Lim demonstrated his deficiency in preparing the financial report, a key element used by the prosecution in the Odebrecht case trial to try to prove the alleged money laundering scheme, after being questioned by defense lawyers. Alfredo Vallarino, Ricardo Martinelli’s defense attorney, exposed the shortcomings of the report as well as the alleged links they are trying to make with the former president. In response, McDonald asked him directly if he had considered this specific document in his analysis, to which expert Lim replied, “I did not consider it.” Lim also emphasized that he used only the information in the file and open sources available on the internet, such as Google and Facebook, and did not review the financial statements of the companies listed in the document. Vallarino questioned the expert’s knowledge of the Drousys system, which he described only partially. He added that the information he was given to prepare his report consisted of copies. The lawyer dismantled the veracity of the witness’s report, question by question. Lim did not see the accounting records of Corporación Energía del Istmo, Importadora Ricamar, Caribbean Holding, among others. During the questioning, McDonald asked the expert to specify the source of his assertion that Silver Win Corporation belonged to the Martinelli family. Lim replied that he based it solely on the information contained in the case file. The expert also acknowledged that he does not have a master’s degree in forensic auditing. Today, the defense lawyers will continue their re-examination of the prosecution’s expert witness, as Judge Baloisa Marquínez extended the hearing from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
