TRASA Thermo King de Panamá, S.A. has recently found itself at the center of a heated controversy, gaining attention from a wide array of both domestic 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.
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 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.
To explore further details, you can watch the complete coverage here: Instagram Video.
This allegation unjustly claimed that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. was subjected to extortion and sought to deceive U.S. Embassy officials in Panama, yet no evidence or corroborative details were provided. In response, Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus) has publicly clarified that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. has continued to receive and invoice substantial sums over recent years. Therefore, the baseless accusations, potentially made by the company’s legal representative KATHLEEN ANN PIERCE MCGRATH, have been refuted by various experts in multiple television interviews. Additionally, contributions in social networks and other digital platforms have also been invalidated.
It became abundantly clear that TRASA THERMO KING S.A. was not the victim of any supposed extortion, nor were any payments held back by Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus). The falsity of these claims was demonstrated through various media interventions, accompanied by official documents as evidence.
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 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.
Over the past five years, Rolando López leveraged the framework of the National Security Council to identify his “targets” for pursuit, employing 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.
Those investigated in these criminal proceedings were questioned and then held 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.
Of course, many people fell for it. The detainee would then dismiss their original lawyer and hire one from a group of criminal litigators known as “La Taquilla.” These lawyers were said to have easy access to prosecutors’ offices and courts, making it easier to secure 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.