Ex-Nicaraguan president launders 54 million dollars in Panama

Former Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman and his partners laundered about 54 million US dollars in Panamanian banks, Attorney General of Nicaragua Alberto Novoa said Thursday.

He said the Panamanian Attorney General's office has sufficient evidence to indict Aleman, several former officials working in his administration and Panamanian lawyers who were involved in the money laundering.

Novoa arrived in Panama on Wednesday night, where he met with his Panamanian counterpart Jose Soza to analyze the judicial proceedings against Aleman.

He said there is sufficient evidence that Aleman transferred millions of dollars from Nicaragua to Panama.

According to Novoa, the money, once transferred to Panama, returned to Nicaragua again and then was deposited in the banks onVirgin Islands.

The Panamanian authorities have retained some 10.5 million dollars deposited in Panamanian banks in the names of Aleman and his relatives, said the attorney general.

The Panamanian authorities have also confiscated several real estates of Aleman and his family.

Aleman was sentenced to 20 years in jail on the money-laundering charge.

Novoa said the Nicaraguan authorities will demand Panama return the money Aleman deposited in Panamanian banks.

Source: Xinhua