Panama - The former representative and former treasurer of the Gatuncillo Community Board, the former treasurer of the Calidonia Community Board, as well as two merchants, were apprehended in the districts of Santiago and Soná, Veraguas province, as they were wanted for the misuse of funds in those entities. The search warrants, which are part of the 'Verades' operation, were carried out in the districts of Santiago and Soná (Veraguas) by units of the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, for crimes against the public administration in the form of embezzlement, due to the irregular handling of public funds allocated by the National Decentralization Authority during the 2019-2024 period. The former officials of the Gatuncillo Community Board are being investigated for causing economic damage of $165,708.59, while in the case against the Calidonia board, the embezzlement amounts to $167,984.15. During the operations, a cell phone and receipt notebooks from commercial establishments were also seized, which will be analyzed as part of the evidence in the investigation.
