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[POLITICS] · Panama · 4 sources

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Panama Firefighters' funds misused for prison renovations

Panama Firefighters misuse of funds Roger Tejada Bryden public audit La Esmeralda prison

An audit by the Comptroller General of the Republic has identified an economic loss to the State of approximately B/. 116,498.67 involving the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de la República de Panamá (BCBRP).

The audit, which reviewed the period from January 2, 2022, to December 31, 2024, found that funds intended for firefighting, emergency, and rescue services were instead used for renovations at the La Esmeralda Women's Rehabilitation Center in Las Garzas. The Comptroller noted that these expenditures were not within the legal competencies of the Fire Department.

The report links these financial discrepancies to Roger Alberto Tejada Bryden, who served as the Minister of Government and President of the BCBRP Patronato during the audited period. In addition to the misappropriation of funds, the audit revealed several administrative failures, including the improper use of Decree 377-2015-DMySC, non-compliance with the entity's founding law, a lack of source documentation, and unregistered fixed assets.

As a result of these findings, the Comptroller has recommended that the report be forwarded to the Attorney General's Office and the Court of Accounts for further legal action.

Entities

Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de la República de Panamá · Contraloría General de la República · La Esmeralda Women's Rehabilitation Center · Procuraduría General de la Nación · Roger Alberto Tejada Bryden

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Banco Nacional de Panamá sustenta presupuesto de B/. 2,532. 6 millones para 2027 - Entremes Noticias Panamá Oeste [www.entremespanamaoeste.com]
Auditoría de Contraloría detecta perjuicio de B/. 116 mil en fondos de los Bomberos - Panama Hoy [panamahoy.com.pa]
Contraloría detecta perjuicio al Estado de más de $116 mil en fondos de los Bomberos [www.panamaamerica.com.pa]
Contraloría detecta perjuicio de $116 mil en fondos de los bomberos durante la gestión del exministro Roger Tejada [www.tvn-2.com]