“Interesting Results or Big Surprises”; IMHPA High Thermal Sensation Alert in Panama; Martinelli Sentenced to 128 Months in Prison for the New Business Case; Unusual Noises During Earthquake Alarmed in Arraijan; International Dog Day.

Friday, July 21, 2023 This last week has been full of “interesting results”.  I almost wrote “Big Surprises”, but I dont think anyone should be surprised by these decisions; they were certainly inevitable. First, on July 13, US Secretary Antony Blinken announced the designation of former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela.  Until recent years, I hadn’t noticed the use of this term and would have thought it could have meant any number of things.  For example, if you volunteer to be the “Designated Driver”, it means that you’re the only one planning to be sober (which is kinda sad).  Also, if you’re designated to be anything, it’s usually a good thing.  The opposite of “designated” could be “discharge”, “dismiss” or “expel” which sounds much more negative. However, “Designation” in this context refers to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023. Officials designated under Section 7031(c) and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States. Holy heck, so that means that not only Varela, but his wife, kids, and several others will also not be going to Disney in Florida any time soon. And then, in another “not surprised one damn bit” moment, Ricardo Martinelli was finally given his sentencing and the Panamanian attorney general happily handed him a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of more than $19 million dollars.  Four other schmucks were also sentenced for the denominated “New Business” crime, which alleges public funds were used to buy a media conglomerate and give the former president a majority stake.  Martinelli immediately stated his innocence and his lawyer told news sources that they would be appealing this decision and exhausting all recourses possible in his client’s defense. The USA doesn’t always do everything right, but they got this one spot on.  It sure as hell took them long enough, but they’re never about speed, instead they work towards a definitive result.  This should be a wakeup call to everyone else in every government everywhere (except the USA) that if you decide to take the path towards corruption, you will eventually pay the price and no longer have access to US soil.  I think the next step is utilizing the Clinton list to seize all of Martinelli’s business interests, as well as Varela’s.  This will really really suck for Panama. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Yoli’s Wisdom PROTECT YOURSELF! IMHPA WARNS OF HIGH THERMAL SENSATION IN PANAMA Protect yourself! IMHPA warns of high thermal sensation in Panama. The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) reports that it maintains a high thermal sensation surveillance warning in the country, which could lead to people experiencing body temperatures between 36 and 42 degrees Celsius. The warning is valid for a period of 10 hours (from 09:50 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.) on this Thursday, July 20, 2023. According to forecaster Emmanuel Velásquez, the areas under the warning are: The forecaster explains that due to the moderately low cloud cover prevailing over the country and the high incidence of solar radiation, high temperatures are generated during the day, exceeding 32°C in various regions, along with moist air masses at low levels of the troposphere in the sector. Velásquez highlights that this atmospheric condition will cause heat strokes for the population exposed to outdoor activities or in poorly ventilated environments. The high thermal sensation could lead to body temperatures being perceived between 36 to 42 degrees Celsius. READ HERE: ¡PROTÉJASE! IMHPA ALERTA ELEVADA SENSACIÓN TÉRMICA EN PANAMÁ THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE (CSJ) ADMITS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE APPOINTMENT OF THE RECTOR OF UNACHI. The Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) accepts the lawsuit against the appointment of the rector of UNACHI. The Sustaining Magistrate, on behalf of the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), requested the authenticated copy of the Proclamation Act of the Rector, 2023-2028 term, issued by the Superior Electoral Tribunal of the University of Chiriquí (UNACHI). The request arises following the contentious administrative lawsuit for nullity filed by Mr. Osman Odir Ledezma Moreno, acting on behalf of Edwin Abdiel Samudio Arcia, who is in competition with Etelvina de Bonagas, the current rector of this institution for the next five years. The reasons, according to the document, are to declare the Proclamation Act null and void, on grounds of illegality. The Act was published in late April 2023, after the elections were held at UNACHI to choose its new rector, with 60% of the votes from the teaching staff, 30% from students, and 10% from administrative personnel. READ HERE: CSJ ADMITE DEMANDA CONTRA PROCLAMACIÓN DE RECTORA DE LA UNACHI MARTINELLI HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THE NEW BUSINESS CASE. What does the ruling say about the New Business case? Former President of the Republic, Ricardo Martinelli, and four other individuals were convicted in the New Business case, according to a ruling by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, which was released on Tuesday by the Judicial Branch. According to the verdict, the former president was sentenced to 128 months, which is equal to 10 years and eight months in prison. In addition, he was fined B/.19,221,600.48 as an ancillary penalty, to be paid to the National Treasury within 12 months after serving the main sentence. This fine corresponds to twice the amount of the economic benefit received and properly quantified. Both Martinelli and Daniel Ochy were declared criminally responsible as authors for the offense of Money Laundering, related to the purchase of Editora Panamá América (Epasa) in 2010. Ochy was sentenced to 96 months in prison and an additional penalty of disqualification from engaging in commercial activities for the same term, once the prison sentence is completed. Four other individuals were also convicted, including Janeth Ibeth Vásquez Sanjur, who received a 60-month prison sentence, and an ancillary penalty of disqualification from holding public office for the same term after serving the main sentence. Mixed Verdict in the New Business Case. CONSÚLTALO Iván