BRIEFS. Crime

Further Proceedings in the Marc Harris case

La Fiscalía Segunda Anticorrupción has requested authorization to extend the investigation period for the alleged breach of law in the management of properties left in Panama by Marc Harris, the convicted American hustler of offshore financial services. The case involves a prominent judge in Panama, Rolando Quesada Vallespi.

The information was confirmed by a source at the Fiscalía, who asked to remain anonymous.

The process began with a lawsuit brought by the curator of Harris's business after he noticed some anomalies in the management of Harris's property, including 15 apartments and a number of vehicles confiscated on a judge’s orders.

Mark Kennion, the chauffeur for Carlos Jones, a lawyer under investigation in a separate criminal matter, was appointed as trustee of the assets.

According to the investigation, Harris's curator has accused Judge Quesada Vallespi of failing to exercise his responsibilities in overseeing Kennion's activities as a trustee and for not taking measures to avoid "grave errors, abuses or mismanagement" of the property in question, as provided by judicial code.

The prosecutor's office ordered an audit before the court order. Both Kennion and the judge deny the accusations against them.