Hearing for former Vice President ‘Gaby’ Carrizo rescheduled for October amid pending appeal

A preliminary hearing in the case against former Panamanian Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo has been rescheduled for Oct. 13 after a court suspended Monday’s session because of a pending appeal.

Judge Didia Ruiz said the proceedings could not move forward while the Public Ministry’s appeal remains unresolved. The appeal concerns an apartment at PH Marea in Costa del Este, which prosecutors have sought to seize.

At a control hearing last Friday, prosecutors asked the court to declare the seizure lawful and impose precautionary measures. The court rejected the request. Carrizo’s defense argued that the $2.3 million property was purchased before the period under investigation, which covers his time as vice president from 2019 to 2024.

Prosecutors claim Carrizo made the final payments on the apartment with money linked to the investigation. The case began after a report by Panama’s Comptroller General concerning his sworn asset declarations.

According to the Public Ministry’s investigation, Carrizo received about $7.1 million in income during the period. By the end of his term, his declared assets reportedly exceeded $9 million. The investigation concerns alleged unjustified enrichment, and the former vice president has not been convicted.