Former Panama Vice President Remains Under House Arrest

Former Vice President Gabriel Carrizo will remain under house arrest and is prohibited from leaving the country. This decision was made by a judge in the Supreme Court of Appeals. Pedro Meilán, Carrizo's lawyer, recalled that his client returned to the country after learning of the arrest warrant against him. This decision was a major setback for the Public Ministry, as its intention to send Carrizo to a penitentiary was thwarted. Carrizo is facing a legal process after being charged with alleged unjustified enrichment. The prosecution insisted on the risk of flight and on the trips he made when he already knew he was being investigated. Former Vice President Gabriel Carrizo will maintain the measure of house arrest and a ban on leaving the country, as determined by a judge in the Supreme Court of Appeals. For Meilán, the audit presented by the Comptroller's Office has "inconsistencies". The prosecution argued about the seriousness of the case and the amount indicated by the audit of the Comptroller General's Office, which speaks of more than 1.9 million dollars without justification. Carrizo was the vice president during the administration of Laurentino Cortizo and the presidential candidate for the Democratic Revolutionary Party during the last election campaign. In addition, the Comptroller's Office ordered the seizure of some of Carrizo's assets that reach 1.3 million dollars. Gaby maintains that he is being persecuted by the comptroller Anel Flores.