PANAMA: PROSECUTERS REQUEST ACCESS TO PAS DATA

UNCLAS PANAMA 000151

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO CVIS CJAN OEXC PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: PROSECUTERS REQUEST ACCESS TO PAS DATA

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Summary and Action Request
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1. (SBU) Summary. The Embassy received a diplomatic note
from the Panamanian MFA on February 17 asking whether five
individauls had "benefited from any kind of program" from the
USG from 2007-2008. The note said the information was being
requested in relation to a corruption investigation. After
requesting clarification, Post received a faxed copy of a
letter from the Panamanian Attorney General's Office
specifying that they were seeking information about "study,
cultural exchange, or academic seminar" programs. End Summary


2. (SBU) Action Request: Post requests guidance for
response, if appropriate.

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Unofficial Translation of Dipnote
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3. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:


UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
Ministry of Foreign Relations
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PANAMA 4, PANAMA

N/V A.J. No. 358

The Ministry of Foreign Relations, Directorate General of
Legal Affairs and Treaties, presents its compliments to the
Honorable Embassy of the United States of America, on the
occasion of referring to Note PGN-SAI-066-09 of January 20,
2009, through which the Attorney General,s International
Affairs Secretariat requested cooperation from the Embassy to
know if the following persons have been benefited with any
program from the Government of the United States of America,
during the period between 2007 and 2008:

ELIGIO CECILIO BINNS, identification No. 1-18-2736
ARCELIO AGUSTIN JESSE ROOL, identification No. 1-19-1539
DILIO BEKER BEKER, identification No. 1-48-326
GEMAIN ANTONIO TEJEIRA WAITE, identification No. 1-45-465
ERNESTO ORIFIEL AVILES SMITH, identification No. 1-21-2193

The Ministry of Foreign Relations, Directorate General
of Legal Affairs and Treaties, informs the Honorable Embassy
of the United States of America that the said request is
needed by the First Anticorruption Prosecutor,s Office
within the proceedings on the possible commission of crimes
against the Administration (File 0402-08).

The Ministry of Foreign Relations, Directorate General
of Legal Affairs and Treaties, takes this opportunity to
reiterate to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of
America the assurances of its highest consideration.

Panama, February 10, 2009.

To the Honorable
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Panama City.

End Text

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Unofficial Translation of Letter from the A/G's Office
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4. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:

Republic of Panama
Attorney General,s Office
International Affairs Secretariat

Panama, January 20, 2009
PGN-SAI-066-09

Director:

I am addressing you on the occasion of notifying that the
First Anticorruption Prosecutor,s Office is carrying out
proceedings on the possible commission of crimes against the
Administration (File 0402-08).

The prosecutor requires certification of whether the
following persons have been benefited with any program from
the United States of America, during the period between 2007
and 2008.

Eligio Cecilio Binns, identification No. 1-18-2736
Arcelio Agustin Jessee Rook, identification No. 1-19-1539
Dilio Beker Beker, identification No. 1-48-326
Germain Antonio Tejeira Waite, identification No. 1-45-465
Ernesto Orifiel Aviles Smith, identification No. 1-21-2193

I would appreciate it, Mr. Director, that through your
dignified channels, you request that the Embassy of the
United States of America provide what is needed by the
Prosecutor on the Above-mentioned proceedings.

I take this occasion to reiterate to the Director, my
most distinguished and highest consideration.

/signed/
Greta Marchosky de Turner
International Affairs Secretary

To His Excellency
Vladimir Franco
Director General of Legal Affairs and Treaties
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Panama City.

GMdeT/itzy
cc. First Anticorruption Prosecutor,s Office

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Unofficial Translation of Second Letter From A/G's Office
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5. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:

Republic of Panama
Attorney General,s Office
International Affairs Secretariat

Panama, February 18, 2009
PGN-SAN-263-09

Director:

In addition to our note PGN-SAI-006-09 of January 20 of
this year, I would like to inform you that the First
Anticorruption Prosecutor,s Office needs is that the Embassy
of the United States of America certify whether the below
mentioned persons have been benefited with any study,
cultural exchange, academic seminar programs, during the
period between 2007 and 2008.

Eligio Cecilio Binns, identification No. 1-18-2736
Arcelio Agustin Jessee Rook, identification No. 1-19-1539
Dilio Beker Beker, identification No. 1-48-326
Germain Antonio Tejeira Waite, identification No.1-45-465
Ernesto Orifiel Aviles Smith, identification No. 1-21-2193

I take this opportunity to reiterate to the Director
the assurances of my highest and distinguished consideration.

/signed/
Greta Marchosky de Turner
International Affairs Secretariat

To His Excellency
Vladimir Franco
Director General of Legal Affairs and Treaties
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Panama City.

GMdeT/itzy.
cc. First Anticorruption Prosecutor,s Office


End TEXT.

STEPHENSON