BRIEFS. crime

Police agencies working together on kidnapping

Police in Panama, Colombia and the United States are jointly investigating the case of Cuban-American businessman Cecilio Padrón, who was kidnapped in Panama City last month.

Sources confirmed that Colombiam police have joined the investigation because there is evidence that Padrón has been taken to that country. Officers from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations have traveled to Panama to work with local police.

Police sources say that the captors have contacted the victim's family and requested a "substantial" ransom for his release. That fact has been disputed by officials from the Ministerio Público, who stated that no ransom demand has been received.

There is also no evidence that the rebel organization FARC was involved in the kidnapping, as some reports have suggested.

Three police officers have been charged in connection with the case. Prosecutor Luis Martínez said that the case file of those officers does not include any information about the whereabouts of the victim or any ransom demands by the kidnappers.