Transfers out of Punta Coco Prison

The Government is preparing to transfer highly dangerous prisoners, presently held in preventive detention in Punta Coco, Balboa district, in the Panamanian Pacific, to other prisons in the country.

Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) formally announced on June 22nd  the ruling declaring it  illegal to detend prisoners in the Punta Coco prison thus ordering  the immediate transfer of the detainees back to where they were originally located. These detainees were taken to the island earlier this month after remodeling the center .

President Juan Carlos Varela , upon hearing the decision of the full Court, reacted immediately through a statement. "The decision of the Supreme Court of Justice taken in relation to the detention center of Punta Coco, weakens the efforts made by the Government against these groups, but at no time will diminish our determination and commitment to continue fighting head-on to eliminate  this scourge that affects our society so much. I reaffirm my position as President of the Republic to continue fighting these criminals in a frontal manner to give Panama the security that Panamanian society deserves,"

At the beginning of June, The Minister of Public Security, Alexis Bethancourt , announced that the jail for highly dangerous prisoners, located on Punta Coco Island, in the Las Perlas archipelago  was reopening.  According to the minister, the measure to reopen the prison was adopted after adjustments were made to the facilities, following recommendations made by local and foreign human rights organizations.  The  State Communication Secretariat, stated at the time that Punta Coco "complies with international standards for respect for human rights, as well as the Constitution and national standards "