US government keeps Waked Group on its Clinton List

The United States government still considers businessman Abdul Waked and its businesses as participants in an illicit network supposedly linked to drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

Five months have gone by since the Treasury Department of the United States moved to include 68 companies belonging to the Waked Group onto its Clinton list of businesses suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering activities. To this day, the legal status of said companies remains uncertain.

Guillermina McDonald, who acts as defense lawyer for Panamanian businessman Abdul Waked, explained to this newspaper that when the Waked Group of companies was added to the Clinton list, the Panamanian public ministry launched its own investigation into the matter.

She added that the College of Lawyers (CNA) has stated publicly on a number of occasions that the Waked Group of companies’ permanence on the list is 'subjective' and 'whimsical ', and that it also violates human rights and democratic principles.

Ms. Macdonald explained that Mr. Waked's own defense lawyers in the U.S. have been denied the right to view the defendant's legal files, something they need to do in order to prepare their defendant’s case.

“Mr. Waked's lawyers have been given access only to highly edited documents and have been informed that they have no right to view to complete case file, something that violates their right to defend their client', she declared.

'As his lawyer, I am waiting for the regulatory six months - four months for a single individual plus two extra in case of more than one accused - to expire on November 5, upon which the summary investigators must be completed. If no proof is produced by then, this case should be closed', she argued.

The American authorities have claimed the existence of a network of companies which they denominated the “Waked Money Laundering Organization”, which allegedly laundered money obtained in their commercial activities.

Among the companies that were included in the list are Grupo Wisa, Vida Panama (Free Zone), Soho Mall, Millenium Plaza, Felix B Maduro, Importadora Maduro and Balboa Bank.

The owner of the chain of stores Hometek was also included in the list and has had to cease operations as a result.

Although some of these businesses have been granted special operating licenses, as is the case for Grupo GESE (El Siglo and La Estrella), Felix B Maduro, Balboa Bank Trust and Soho Mall, their future remains uncertain.

In the case of Soho Mall and Felix B Maduro, their assets have been placed in a trust in order to guarantee the continuity of operations.

According to international relations expert Euclides Tapia, the Panamanian government must attempt to cast light on the situation relating to the Waked business group, regardless of what the outcome may be.

For his part, the American ambassador to Panama, John Feeley, declared that he was working hand in hand with the Panamanian government in order to preserve employment, adding that workers had no responsibility for the actions of their bosses.

The ambassador also confirmed that he was in constant contact with the Attorney General Kenia Porcell.