Reporting on criminal incidents, investigations, and law enforcement responses across Panama. Stories focus on facts, community impact, and safety developments.
A judge in Panama ruled that the detention of former La Chorrera mayor Tomás Velásquez and ex-municipal engineer Adriano Ferrer was illegal, but both were charged with alleged peculation and ordered to report monthly. The case keeps public attention on accountability in local government.
A judge took under advisement the verdict in the trial of two former National Security Council members accused of peculation over missing surveillance equipment. The case centers on the handling of technology used for wiretaps in Panama.
A man was found dead with apparent signs of torture in a ravine in Santa Librada, San Miguelito, in a new violent incident in the district. The discovery adds to growing concern over public security in the Panama metro area.
Panama’s Public Ministry is investigating the disappearance of Carlos Portocarrero Ávila, who was last seen in Chame on April 19, 2026. The case remains under formal investigation as authorities work to determine his whereabouts.
A magistrates’ ruling kept one suspect in provisional detention for six months in the homicide case of a police agent in Panama. The measure remains in place while investigators continue the intentional homicide probe.
Nearly 100 animals were rescued from poor conditions inside a home in David during a coordinated operation involving animal welfare officials, peace judges, and police. The case highlights Panama’s growing focus on animal protection enforcement.
Former La Chorrera mayor Tomás Velásquez has been charged with peculado and ordered to report monthly in a Panama Oeste corruption case. Prosecutors allege irregular handling of $120,000 tied to an abandoned community project.
Juan Acevedo was extradited back to New York after being arrested at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City with a forged Colombian document. The case underscores Panama’s role as a key transit point in international law enforcement cooperation.
Authorities in San Miguelito are searching for a Colombian citizen linked to an alleged attempted femicide in Belisario Frías on April 22, 2026. The case has renewed attention on gender-based violence in Panama’s urban districts.
A man in San Miguelito was ordered into preventive detention after allegedly threatening his mother and warning her to leave the home or face violence. The case underscores the serious legal response to domestic violence threats in Panama.
Recent convictions in several Panamanian provinces show that sexual violence against children and adolescents remains a serious national problem. Prosecutors are highlighting these cases as the justice system continues to pursue abuse crimes against minors.
A video of a disputed search in Panama Oeste has prompted a response from the Public Ministry, after the operation was also captured by officers’ body cameras. The case has sparked public attention over how the raid was carried out.
A representative and a treasurer from a Colón community board were ordered into provisional detention over an aggravated embezzlement accusation. The case highlights continued concerns about accountability in the handling of public funds at the local level.
A judge has taken the Pinchadora case against Ronny Rodríguez and William Pittí under advisement after defense lawyers requested acquittal. The ruling now moves to the final stage.
Former La Chorrera mayor Tomás Velásquez appeared at a control hearing after being detained in a corruption-related case. A judge declared the arrest illegal as the case moves through Panama’s courts.
A trial has begun in Panama over the alleged disappearance of surveillance equipment bought during the Martinelli administration for illegal wiretapping. Former National Security Council members Ronny Rodríguez and William Pittí are appearing by Zoom while detained at the DIJ.
Police and municipal agents stopped an armed robbery attempt at a jewelry store in Plaza 5 de Mayo and detained the suspect. The incident highlights security challenges in one of Panama City’s busiest commercial areas.
Panama has received Ali Zaki Hage Jalil, a man accused of helping plan the 1994 Alas Chiricanas bombing that killed 21 people. The extradition brings new momentum to the country’s longest-running terrorism case.
Former La Chorrera mayor Tomás Velásquez was arrested in Panama Oeste in connection with an embezzlement case. The case draws attention to anti-corruption efforts and public accountability in municipal government.
A former music teacher in San Miguelito was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of corruption of minors and related sexual crimes. The ruling underscores Panama’s push to hold offenders accountable in cases involving abuse of children.