(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Pablo O’Brien Cuadros, of the Lima-based newspaper “El Comercio”, is facing legal action in a Panama court. On 25 January 2005, a case against the journalist was admitted at the Thirteenth District Prosecutor’s Office in Panama City. He is accused of “acting against the public faith and falsifying information”. A complaint was […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Pablo O’Brien Cuadros, of the Lima-based newspaper “El Comercio”, is facing legal action in a Panama court. On 25 January 2005, a case against the journalist was admitted at the Thirteenth District Prosecutor’s Office in Panama City. He is accused of “acting against the public faith and falsifying information”.
A complaint was initially filed against O’Brien on 9 July 2004 by Bavaria, a Colombian beer company, through its representative, Jaime Lombana. The company denied information published in “El Comercio”, which would be a key element in uncovering an alleged bribe paid by the company to one of Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo’s main advisors.
According to the “El Comercio” article, the Panama Civil Aeronautics General Directorate (Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil de Panamá) temporarily detained one of Bavaria’s high-ranking employees as he was about to fly to Peru in the company’s private jet, because he was carrying US$1.7 million in cash. The incident was noted in the airport’s security records and is the main piece of evidence of the money’s existence and its transfer. Bavaria flatly denies any of these events took place, including the flight to Peru.
O’Brien has yet to be notified by the Prosecutor’s Office of the legal action pending against him. The journalist told IPYS that he stands by the information published in “El Comercio” and that he believes Bavaria’s aim is to prevent vital evidence from being included in the investigation.
