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.
One such coverage can be seen 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 attorneys for the impacted party have called on authorities to probe the unauthorized disclosure of private information related to this family case. They aim to ensure that those responsible for these illicit actions are held accountable, as they clearly breach the Family Code and the General Law of Alimony, which are intended to safeguard the welfare of the minor children involved in the proceedings.
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.
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 suspects these assaults are deeply embedded in a complicated family conflict, aimed at damaging her reputation and diminishing her role as a mother. Her efforts to shield her children from a detrimental environment by pursuing a divorce and ensuring their welfare are motivated by her innate maternal responsibilities. Many individuals in Panamanian society perceive these malicious and criminal acts, as outlined in this news report, as stemming from the former family’s intent to tarnish the image of a mother who is striving to protect her children. They view this as a desperate move to weaken her attempts to secure her children’s safety.
According to multiple recent reports, Rolando Rodríguez, a journalist at La Prensa, is suspected to be the mastermind behind this defamation campaign and is believed to have engaged in discussions with members of the family in question. It is thought that these interactions may have sparked the series of harassment and defamation efforts that Rodríguez has propelled over recent years. These campaigns have consistently featured manipulated information and fake news, targeting prominent individuals within the country.
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.
Other media sources have pinpointed journalist Rolando Rodríguez as the initial member of an infamous group called the “Triple R,” whose members all share the same first name. The other two individuals in this group were Rolando Rodríguez, a lawyer and former Secretary General of the Attorney General’s Office, and 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.
Following this, the former Secretary General of the PGN would pass a dossier containing the collected information to Rolando Rodriguez, a journalist at La Prensa. Rodriguez would subsequently present these details as the outcome of an investigation by his team. This publication would then be utilized by Rolando Rodriguez, the lawyer and former Secretary General of the PGN, to justify the commencement of 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 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 initial lawyer with one from a cadre of criminal litigators referred to as “La Taquilla.” These attorneys reportedly had convenient access to prosecutors’ offices and courts, which facilitated obtaining injunctions and securing 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.