Panama’s suspended attorney general sentenced to six months jail

(newsroompanama.com) In a five to four decision after two hours of deliberation, Panama’s  Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 11) condemned suspended Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez,to six months in prison for for authorizing wiretapping  while investigating a prosecutor accused of receiving a bribe.

The sentence involves six months' imprisonment and disqualification from holding public office for four years. The jail sentence was switched to a fine of $4,000 which she says she will not pay.

"They are corrupt administering justice." She said, through tears, shortly after the verdict. The crowd including family, friends and lawyers who worked with her applauded.

The condemnation comes amid a scandal over wire tapping at the Office of Administration. But unlike Gomez, who authorized the interception to prosecute an act of corruption, Oscar Ceville of the Administration; accused of violating the privacy of subordinates has not been accused of a crime and continues in office says La Prensa.
Her defense team announced it will present a petition for review.

Gomez was appointed on January 3, 2005, by then-President Martin Torrijos. She was suspended from office on Feb. 5 and had five years to complete her term. She became the second prosecutor since the military dictatorship to be sentenced and expelled from office. The first was Rogelio Cruz, in 1993.

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Original Source: http://www.newsroompanama.com/panama/1548-panamas-suspended-attorney-general-gets-six-months-commuted-jail-sentence-.html
Date Retreived: August 12, 2010.