BUSINESSMAN: I DELIVERED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN KICKBACK CASH TO PRESIDENT MARTINELLI

Cristóbal Salerno Balestra

Evidence of massive corruption, committed by former Panamanian President, Ricardo Martinelli, while in office, continues to stun Panamanians. Cristóbal "Tobin" Salerno Balestra, who ran Cobranzas del Istmo, SA, a Panamanian company that collected delinquent taxes on behalf of the General Revenue Department, has testified that he delivered bags of cash, each containing $400-$600,000, every three months, to the offices of former President Martinelli's Super 99 supermarket chain. Salerno's company earned an estimated $45m during a four year period; he is being held under house arrest, on order of the Corruption Prosecutor's Office.

Salerno also testified that he gave Martinelli a check for $900,000, as a kickback for the lucrative business, awarded to him by Martinelli, in a no-bid contract. Martinelli's present location is unknown, though his publicists swear that he is living in the United States. He even has posted "evidence" of his purchase of a luxury automobile in Miami, though most believe he is in hiding on an estate he purchased in Paraguay.  

Martinelli allegedy buying a Lexus in North Miami