What Happened
A letter sent to La Prensa by attorney Basilio Enrique González disputes recent assertions on the newspaper’s front page and page 2A about Aaron ‘Ronny’ Mizrachi. The lawyer says some published statements are “totally incorrect” and required prompt clarification.
Key Clarifications from the Defense
The reply states that Aaron Mizrachi was the owner, sole shareholder and ultimate beneficiary of Caribbean Holding Services LTD, a company formed in 1997 and used as his operating company. According to the lawyer, Mizrachi received only political donations from affiliates of Odebrecht during January–October 2009. Those funds, the letter says, were for the electoral campaign that brought together the Cambio Democrático party and the Partido Panameñista in alliance.
González writes that, from the beginning of his investigative statement, Mizrachi declared that the 2009 funds were transferred in full — “without profiting a cent” — to two then-candidates, Ricardo Martinelli and Juan Carlos Varela, and to Importadora Ricamar, which the letter says handled advertising and campaign materials (sweaters, caps, umbrellas and similar items). The reply notes Importadora Ricamar was not called to trial.
The lawyer also disputes other names published by La Prensa as recipients. He denies that transfers were made to the Martinelli brothers, Ricardo Francolini, or Mimito Arias (a Cambio Democrático candidate in 2014), emphasizing that the donations in question relate to 2009 and were for a campaign fundraising dinner, not payments to those individuals.
Allegations About Post‑2009 Transfers
González insists Mizrachi never received any other money from Odebrecht beyond the 2009 transfers. He calls another published claim — that Mizrachi received 2010 transfers from Innovation Research Engineering Corp. — a falsity. The reply points out that the U.S. prosecution presented evidence beginning in 2010, which the lawyer says is why the distinction in dates is relevant.
Legal Posture and Context
The letter states Mizrachi will continue to assert his defense and that he has never been a public official, never received a bribe and has been involved in what the attorney describes as an unjust process lasting more than 10 years. The lawyer notes the events occurred 17 years ago and expresses expectation that justice will be done.
La Prensa appended its standard notice that replicas are published as submitted by their authors and are not edited by the newspaper.