Pregnant woman accused of laundering money for 'Mafia Filipinas' placed under house arrest

A 25-year-old pregnant woman in Panama has been placed under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country after being charged with money laundering. The charges are linked to the criminal network known as "Mafia Filipinas" and are part of an investigation called "Operation Corsario."

Marisol Ortiz, a judge at the First Judicial Circuit Court of Panama, ordered the precautionary measure of house arrest, along with the travel ban. The Public Ministry requested the measure, citing the woman's pregnant state and the existence of procedural risks, including the danger of flight, potential destruction of evidence, and the seriousness of the investigated acts.

During a hearing on July 30, the judge legalized the apprehension of the suspect and accepted the charges presented by the Public Ministry, represented by prosecutor Linda De León. According to the investigation, the woman is allegedly connected to commercial activities conducted through shell companies. The prosecution believes these entities were used to hide, conceal, or impede the determination of the origin, location, destination, or ownership of funds and assets, knowing their illicit provenance.

This case is related to "Operation Corsario," which was developed in coordination with judicial authorities in Spain. The investigation began in 2022 following the seizure of illicit substances allegedly linked to the "Mafia Filipinas" group. The accused woman was represented by her defense attorney, Katiuska Ramos.