Murder and corruption in Panama

Over 100 police officers accused of criminal activities, including the shooting and killing of unarmed civilians, have avoided prosecution during the current government because of Law 74 (See here, here, here and here.) Human rights advocates have asked for the repeal of Law 74 which protects police from prosecution.

In the meantime, prosecutors are now awaiting a decision to move ahead with homicide trials for twenty-four National Police officers. Several of the accused are on desk duty while others are "under office arrest, similar to house arrest." None of the twenty-four officers are in jail.

Obviously I don't want to overemphasize the implications but a decision to prosecute and convict a number of the accused will go a long way to demonstrating that no one is above the law in Panama.

Panama's Corruption Perceptions Index score from Transparency International recently dropped from 38 in 2012 to 35 in 2013, tied for 102nd in the world.

According to Haley Moncrief with BNamericas

Panama's economic growth and heavy investment in infrastructure projects like its US$5.25bn Panama Canal expansion is attracting investors' attention. The country is also the fastest growing in Latin America, boasting an average annual growth rate of 8.5%, and per capita GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Attracting foreign capital and companies has been a main priority of the administration of President Ricardo Martinelli. Yet a daunting and worsening corruption perception could thwart the country's efforts to reel in foreign capital, and taint its growing appeal.

Some of the country's corruption woes include a lack of judicial independence, issues with transparency - particularly regarding availability of Panamanian companies' ownership information - as well as the availability of accounting information regarding entities that do not receive Panamanian-source income.

I'd say that it probably doesn't help that several of the developing corruption scandals are tied directly to the president, members of his family, his administration and his political party. It's tough to see which of the charges are going to stick but the allegations can't help the perception of corruption in Panama.