Panama Accuses Nicaragua’s Alemán of Money Laundering

PANAMA CITY (AFP) – Panama’santi-corruption prosecutor, Cecilia López,announced Tuesday that Panama is filingcharges of money laundering against formerNicaraguan President ArnoldoAlemán (1997-2002), his former taxdirector Byron Jérez, and six other formergovernment authorities.The Panamanian Prosecutor’s Officereported that it has discovered $9.4 milliondistributed through 40 accountslinked to Alemán and Jérez in 12Panamanian banks. The money is thoughtto be Nicaraguan state funds that weretransferred illegally to foreign banks.According to López, Alemán, Jérezand their family members moved $60 millionthrough Panamanian accounts duringthe five years they were in power.Alemán is serving a 20-year sentence inNicaragua for corruption, money launderingand misappropriation of state funds.