Minister of Government Will Cooperate In Investigation

(Panama-Guide) - La Prensa -  Panama's Minister of Government, Roxana Mendez, ordered the transfer of the administrative staff and custodians of the Juvenile Enforcement Center, located at Tocumen, where there was the fire that burned seven young men, one of whom died. Mendez also said she has asked for a thorough investigation that seeks to clarify what happened at the facility, and she announced she would provide the necessary support to the Public Ministry (MP). The Ministry of Government through a press release announced they will "fully cooperate" to get to the bottom of what happened, and that the courts will punish with "the full weight of the law against those responsible." In this sense, Mendez said it falls to the Public Ministry to conduct the investigation, subject to an administrative investigation to determine whether the officers involved in the incident acted responsibly.

Transition Committee - On another subject, Méndez reported they have established a transition committee between the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Government that will review the protocols and procedures in prisons. The aim is to ensure that all of the facilities have the instruments to prevent such incidents, she said.

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Original Source: Panama-Guide

Date Retrieved: January 14, 2011.