BRIEFS. judicial

Murcia’s associate to turn himself in

A lawyer for Colombian Hugo Luis Pinto, who has been linked to DMG, a company accused of money laundering and fraud, said that his client will turn himself in to prosecutors this week for questioning.

Pinto worked for Colombian businessman David Murcia Guzmán at DMG's office in Edison Plaza. Murcia was taken into custody last November at the request of Colombian authorities, who also issued arrest warrants for Pinto and Murcia's wife, Johana Ivette León.

León was arrested yesterday by Interpol in Uruguay. She faces extradition to Colombia, and also faces criminal charges in Panama.

Pinto's lawyer said his client never left Panama, and is not a fugitive from justice.

Pinto worked for Murcia in Colombia and arrived in Panama in 2005 to oversee the company's operations here.

According to prosecutors, Pinto was responsible for signing contracts with customers of DMG in Panama. According to records recovered by investigators, the company conducted transactions worth some $17 million.

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