What Happened
Anti-corruption prosecutors continued interviews on Monday with the auditors who prepared a report tied to the investigation into former vice president José Gabriel Carrizo over alleged unjustified enrichment.
The session had been interrupted last Thursday after officials from the Office of the Comptroller General appeared at the prosecutor’s office and halted the proceeding. The auditors later returned under a formal summons to finish answering questions about the review of Carrizo’s accounts and assets.
Why the Proceeding Matters
The interviews are part of a broader criminal case that has drawn attention because it involves a former vice president and current member of the Central American Parliament. Prosecutors are examining the audit work that supported actions taken against Carrizo, including the seizure of assets linked to him.
In November 2025, Comptroller Anel Flores ordered the seizure of eight bank accounts, vehicles, receivables, and real estate connected to Carrizo after an audit identified possible unjustified enrichment during his 2019-2024 tenure as vice president.
Background of the Case
On January 28, 2026, a guarantee judge formally charged Carrizo and ordered house arrest on the unjustified enrichment allegation. His defense later filed a constitutional challenge arguing the judge lacked authority to hear the case because Carrizo is a Parlacen member.
The full Supreme Court of Justice did not admit the challenge, leaving both the charges and the precautionary measures in place.
The controversy also reached the National Assembly, which had planned to give Comptroller Flores the floor to explain his actions after the interruption at the prosecutor’s office. Although he had been granted a courtesy of the floor, he did not appear.
Separately, a proposal from the Vamos coalition to summon Flores before the full Assembly was rejected in a vote of 12 in favor, 40 against, and one abstention.
What This Means
The renewed interviews show that the anti-corruption case is still moving forward despite procedural clashes between the Comptroller’s Office and prosecutors. The outcome could shape how Panama handles high-profile corruption probes involving senior former officials and the legal reach of audit findings in criminal proceedings.