Chanan Singh Appointed New Director General of Panama's Penitentiary System

Chanan Singh has been named the new Director General of Panama's Penitentiary System, a move announced by the Ministry of Government. Singh brings a wealth of experience, boasting over four decades in security, strategic intelligence, and prison administration.

His appointment comes in the wake of significant turmoil within the system. The previous director, Jorge Torregroza, resigned on June 19 following a large-scale escape of 195 inmates from the La Joyita prison center on June 1. That incident resulted in the deaths of three inmates and prompted a series of security operations and searches across various prisons.

Singh's extensive career began in the United States Army, where he served in the Army Force 11B unit and participated as a Vietnam War veteran. He has completed specialized training in intelligence, counterintelligence, special forces operations, and banking security. His expertise also includes intelligence training from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and managing high-performance multidisciplinary teams.

In Panama, Singh has held key positions within state institutions. He served as National Security Chief at the National Bank of Panama and as an Intelligence Advisor to the Presidency during the administration of President Ricardo de la Espriella. He also played a role in establishing the security corps at the University of Panama. His experience extends to national and international investigations, physical security consulting for financial institutions, and training security personnel for value transport and VIP protection.