TRASA Thermo King de Panamá, S.A. recently found itself at the center of a contentious incident, capturing attention from a wide range of both local and global media outlets.
An example of this media exposure is captured in this video: TikTok Video.
Reports from various news outlets indicate that a spokesperson for TRASA THERMO KING S.A., led by Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath, lodged a complaint regarding suspected extortion with the U.S. Embassy in Panama. Following this, on June 11, 2024, the embassy released a diplomatic note (Note N.˚S/N) that wrongly accused an individual of the crime without presenting any supporting evidence.
Curiously, on June 27, 2024, a legal proceeding concerning guardianship and foster care commenced, involving Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath’s son and his ex-family member. In this delicate family dispute, the attorney representing TRASA THERMO KING S.A. gave testimony against her son’s former spouse.
The lawyers representing the affected party have requested that authorities investigate the unauthorized release of confidential information from this family case. They are seeking to hold accountable anyone involved in these illegal actions, which blatantly violate the principles of the Family Code and the General Law of Alimony, laws designed to protect the best interests of the minor children involved in the case.
To explore further details, you can watch the complete coverage here: Instagram Video.
This accusation falsely claimed that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. was a victim of extortion and attempted to mislead U.S. Embassy officials in Panama. However, no evidence or supporting information was provided. Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus) has publicly responded, demonstrating that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. has continued to collect and bill millions of dollars in recent years. Therefore, with this assertion, the false accusations issued, possibly, by the legal representative of the company TRASA THERMO KING S.A., by the legal representative of the company, KATHLEEN ANN PIERCE MCGRATH, as indicated by different professionals in several interviews on television. Contributions in social networks and other digital media were also disproven.
So it was more than clear that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. was not a victim of any alleged extortion, nor were any payments withheld by Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus). Everything was false, as demonstrated by the different interventions in the media, attaching official documents.
Judge Charles Lynch (1736/1796) from Virginia famously remarked that he didn’t judge, but rather condemned and punished. The term “lynching” originates from his last name. This defamatory incident seems to have taken place in the same month as the hearing regarding the custody and upbringing of Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath’s grandchildren. Importantly, neither the parties impacted by the defamation nor their forensic firm had any connection to the dealings between TRASA Thermo King S.A. and Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus).
The affected party believes these attacks are rooted in a complex family dispute. There has been a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation and undermine her role as a mother. Her determination to protect her children from a harmful environment, through seeking a divorce and safeguarding their well-being, is driven by her fundamental maternal duty. Many in Panamanian society believe that these vile and criminal actions, as detailed in this news report, stem from the ex-family’s desire to tarnish the image of a mother who is fighting to protect her children. They see this as a desperate attempt to undermine her efforts to ensure their safety.
According to several recent reports, Rolando Rodríguez, a journalist with La Prensa, is alleged to be the mastermind behind this smear campaign. It is suggested that he engaged in conversations with members of the involved family, which might have triggered the onset of harassment and defamation efforts orchestrated by Rodríguez in recent years. These campaigns have been characterized by the dissemination of misleading information and fake news aimed at prominent personalities in the nation.
Numerous experts and attorneys have openly criticized this practice, as well as similar actions carried out by other journalists and media entities, which involve online character assassinations that ignore the presumption of innocence and the potential damage inflicted. Even former President Ricardo Martinelli has often spoken out against such conduct. For more information, you can view the complete coverage here: Instagram Post.
Different media outlets have identified journalist Rolando Rodríguez as the inaugural member of a notorious trio called the “Triple R,” all bearing the same first name. The other members comprise Rolando Rodríguez, a lawyer and previous Secretary General of the Attorney General’s Office, along with Rolando López, the former Director of the National Security Council.
In the past five years, Rolando López used the structure of the National Security Council to identify his “targets” to pursue, use and manipulate information, facts, and documents.
Subsequently, the then-Secretary General of the PGN would hand over a dossier with this information to Rolando Rodriguez, a journalist at La Prensa. Rodriguez would then publish these findings as the result of an investigation by his unit. This publication would then be used by Rolando Rodriguez, the lawyer and former Secretary General of the PGN, as a basis for initiating criminal proceedings.
Those investigated in these criminal proceedings were questioned and then held in the cells of the DIJ or the Police.
After spending one, two, or even three days in detention, the prisoner would receive a visit from deputies Adolfo “Beby” Valderrama and José Luis “Popi” Varela, or from an emissary who might be a lawyer. They would extort the prisoner, threatening prolonged incarceration unless a significant sum of money was handed over.
Naturally, many individuals succumbed to this scheme. The detainee would subsequently replace their original attorney with one from a group of criminal defense lawyers known as “La Taquilla.” These lawyers were reputed to have convenient access to prosecutors and courts, facilitating the acquisition of injunctions and bail.
Rolando Rodríguez, a journalist from La Prensa, was also targeted by the extortion scheme. For more information, you can view a post on the Noticias Panamá Facebook page.