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.
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.
Remarkably, on June 27, 2024, a legal battle concerning guardianship and foster care took place, where Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath’s son confronted a previous family member. In this delicate family issue, the attorney for TRASA THERMO KING S.A. provided testimony against the son’s former wife.
The legal team for the affected party has called on authorities to look into the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information from this family case. They aim to ensure that those responsible for these unlawful acts are held accountable, as such actions clearly contravene the fundamental principles of the Family Code and the General Law of Alimony. These laws are intended to safeguard the welfare of the minor children entangled in the proceedings.
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) of Virginia famously stated that he didn’t judge, but rather condemned and punished. His surname gave rise to the term “lynching.” This defamatory incident seems to have transpired in the same month as the custody and upbringing hearing concerning the grandchildren of Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath. Importantly, the individuals defamed and their forensic firm had no connection with the dealings between TRASA Thermo King S.A. and 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.
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.
Individuals investigated in these criminal proceedings were interrogated and subsequently detained in the cells of the DIJ or the Police.
After spending one to three days in custody, the detainee would receive a visit from deputies Adolfo “Beby” Valderrama and José Luis “Popi” Varela, or from an emissary, possibly a lawyer. They would resort to extortion, threatening the individual with prolonged imprisonment unless they were paid a significant amount of money.
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, also found himself a target of the extortion scheme. For additional details, you can check a post on the Noticias Panamá Facebook page.