TRASA Thermo King de Panamá, S.A. has recently been involved in a controversial situation, which has been echoed by numerous local and international media.
One such coverage can be seen in this video: TikTok Video.
Various news outlets have reported that a spokesperson for TRASA THERMO KING S.A., led by Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath, notified the U.S. Embassy in Panama about an alleged extortion incident. Following this, on June 11, 2024, the embassy issued a diplomatic note (Note N.˚S/N), erroneously accusing an individual of the crime without substantiating the claim with 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 attorneys for the impacted party have petitioned the authorities to probe into the illicit disclosure of confidential details from this family case. They aim to ensure that those accountable for these unlawful activities are brought to justice, as they represent a clear infringement of the Family Code and the General Law of Alimony, which are established to safeguard the welfare of the minor children implicated in the matter.
For further information, you can access the complete coverage here: Instagram Video.
The accusation misleadingly alleged that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. was targeted by extortionists and attempted to deceive U.S. Embassy officials in Panama, yet it lacked any supporting evidence. Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus) has publicly reacted, revealing that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. has continued to generate and invoice millions of dollars in recent years. Consequently, the baseless allegations, which were possibly made by the legal representative of TRASA THERMO KING S.A., KATHLEEN ANN PIERCE MCGRATH, have been refuted by several professionals during various television interviews. Contributions on social media and other digital platforms also countered these claims.
It became abundantly clear that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. was not subjected to any alleged extortion, nor did Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus) withhold any payments. The entire narrative was proven to be false, as evidenced by various media interventions that included official documentation.
Judge Charles Lynch (1736/1796) from Virginia once said that he did not judge but condemned and punished. The term “lynching” is derived from his surname. This defamatory action appears to have occurred in the same month as the hearing for the custody and upbringing process of the grandchildren of Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath. Notably, neither the individuals affected by the slander nor their forensic firm had any involvement in the proceedings of TRASA Thermo King S.A. with Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus).
The affected party perceives these attacks as stemming from a complicated family conflict. There seems to be a deliberate effort to damage her reputation and challenge her role as a mother. Her resolve to shield her children from a detrimental environment, by pursuing a divorce and ensuring their safety, arises from her innate maternal responsibility. Many in Panamanian society view these malicious and criminal actions, as outlined in this news report, as attempts by the ex-family to tarnish the image of a mother committed to defending her children. They perceive it as a desperate bid to undermine her efforts to secure their well-being.
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.
Many experts and lawyers have publicly condemned this practice, along with similar actions by other journalists and media outlets, which involve online character assassination that disregards the presumption of innocence and overlooks the potential harm caused. Even former President Ricardo Martinelli has frequently denounced such behavior. For more details, you can view the full 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.
Over the last five years, Rolando López has utilized the framework of the National Security Council to pinpoint his “targets” for the purpose of pursuing, leveraging, and manipulating 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.
Individuals scrutinized in these criminal proceedings were questioned and subsequently detained 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, numerous individuals succumbed to this scheme. The detainee would then replace their initial lawyer with one from a group of criminal attorneys known as “La Taquilla.” These lawyers reportedly had convenient access to prosecutors’ offices and courts, facilitating the process of obtaining injunctions and bail.
Rolando Rodríguez, a journalist from La Prensa, was also a victim of this extortion scheme. For additional information, you can visit a post on the Noticias Panamá Facebook page.