The Supreme Court of Panama acquitted Deputy Arcesio Arias of four sexual offense charges against two women, one of them a minor. However, five magistrates considered him guilty of one of the crimes (lewd acts), while the other four disagreed. Due to the delay in the proceedings and the subsequent acquittal, which required a two-thirds majority, Arias avoided conviction. This case sparked public outcry, especially after one of the magistrates who acquitted him, Russo, was appointed as the Human Rights Ombudsman. In response, the mayor of San Felipe, Mayer Mizrachi, proposed renaming Playa Prieta to Playa Las Garzas, a move seen by many as political. The government also faced criticism for the significant delay in issuing vehicle license plates, which will now feature a political message for the next five years.
