Politics Events Country 2026-02-02T01:08:08+00:00

Panama's Prosecutor's Office Accepts Case Against Former President

Panama's Prosecutor's Office has accepted a criminal complaint against former President Juan Carlos Varela and other high-ranking officials for abuse of power. The investigation is linked to the 'Operation 887' case.


Panama's Prosecutor's Office Accepts Case Against Former President

The Primary Attention Prosecutor's Office of the First Judicial Circuit admitted a criminal complaint filed against former President Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, former Attorney General Kenia Isolda Porcell Díaz, and Director of the Security Council Rolando López Pérez, confirmed lawyer Roiz Alberto Navarro Muñoz.

The criminal action also extends to any other person found responsible for the alleged commission of crimes related to the misuse of state power, as outlined in the document already admitted by the Public Ministry.

Navarro, who filed the complaint on behalf of Germán Eliecer Chanis Aguilar, known as 'Fakir', indicated that the process has advanced with the formal admission and that notification would be made tomorrow. It is case number 10447, also identified as case 507, linked to the so-called 'Operation 887', a process that would have resulted in the complainant's detention.

As elements of conviction, seven pages of the so-called 'Varela Leaks' were incorporated into the file, which form part of the documentation presented to the Prosecutor's Office.

The complaint also details that, as a consequence of these actions, Chanis Aguilar suffered economic damages, being unable to develop commercial activities on his farms or businesses due to the deprivation of liberty, a situation that is now the subject of judicial analysis.

With the admission of the complaint, the Public Ministry must continue the corresponding procedure within the criminal process to determine if there is liability for the facts reported.

Chanis Aguilar remains deprived of liberty.

The complaint alleges alleged crimes of organized crime, trafficking of influences, illicit association for criminal purposes, apology of the crime, against the administration of justice, and against the internal personality of the State, all under analysis by the Public Ministry.

According to what is stated in the complaint, the facts would be related to actions that occurred during the 2014-2018 presidential period, when, allegedly, a criminal investigation was promoted against Chanis Aguilar, whom the document identifies as a political opponent of the then government.

The document refers to the inquisitorial file No.