With all the hoopla surrounding the money laundering charges being thrown around, in the matter of the Editorial Panama America SA (Epasa) scandal, nobody seems to want to discuss the 300 pound elephant in the room: the thrice-convicted Colombian Pyramid & Ponzi schemer, David Eduardo Helmut Murcia Guzmán, and his prominent role in the purchase.
Panama's fugitive ex-president, Ricardo Martinelli, and his close associate, Gabriel "Gabby" Btesh, were the buyers; both Martinelli & Beesh used the newspaper to smear anyone in Panama that they had differences with, or regarded as political or economic rivals. Btesh fled to Israel, where he cannot be extradited to Panama, to face justice for his corruption, and criminal activities. Agents involved in the illegal electronic and video surveillance of over 150 prominent Panamanians, and US officials working in the American Embassy, worked out of a building that Btesh owns.
A substantial amount of the money used to buy Panama America came from Murcia; the balance reportedly was stolen from various Panamanian governmental agency accounts.
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