Panama Freezes Funds of Aleman Cronies
The Panamanian Public Ministry bluntly refused to release four of the frozen nine million dollars that were in hands of collaborators of ex Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman.

Anti-Corruption Attorney Mercedes de Leon said Third Judge Adolfo Mejia´s ruling on definitive dismissal and refund of goods is inconsistent with proceedings against Aleman.

Mejia seeks to return the money to Ethel and Valeria Jerez, wife and daughter of Byron Perez, ex chief of government funds during the Aleman presidency.

“There is conclusive evidence showing those funds belonged to the Nicaraguan Treasury,” noted de Leon, who vowed to request extradition in cases related to money laundering, in which the ex Nicaraguan president is held as the main accused.

Recently, Judge Mejia ruled to arrest Aleman because there was enough proof against him, his wife, his father-in-law and his ex tax collector, who are charged with money laundering.

He also proposed opening a case regarding the laundering of 58.3 million dollars from the General Treasury deposited in Panamanian banks.

Aleman is currently serving a 20-year sentence (as house arrest given his health conditions), and warrants were issued for his wife, Maria Fernanda Flores de Aleman; her father, Jose Antonio Flores Lovo, and ex government fund chief Byron Jerez.

According to documents, Aleman, whose mandate lasted from 1997 to 2002, and his cronies took the over 58.2 million dollars from the treasury