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.
A particular example of this coverage is showcased in this video: TikTok Video.
According to multiple news sources, a representative from TRASA THERMO KING S.A., a company headed by Kathleen Ann Pierce McGrath, reported a case of alleged extortion to the U.S. Embassy in Panama. In response, the embassy issued a diplomatic note (Note N.˚S/N) on June 11, 2024, falsely accusing someone of this crime without providing any 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 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 more details, you can view the full 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 subjected to any supposed extortion, nor did Transporte Masivo de Panamá, S.A. (Mi Bus) withhold any payments. This misinformation was thoroughly debunked through various media interventions, which included the presentation of 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 various sources published recently, Rolando Rodríguez, a journalist at La Prensa and the alleged architect behind this smear campaign, is said to have had discussions with members of this family. It is believed that these conversations may have been the catalyst for the harassment and smear campaigns that Rodríguez has orchestrated over the past few years. These campaigns have been marked by the use of distorted information and fake news targeting well-known figures in the country.
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.
Other media outlets identified journalist Rolando Rodríguez as the first member of a notorious group known as the “Triple R,” all of whom share the same first name. The other two members 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.
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.
Afterward, the then-Secretary General of the PGN would pass on a dossier containing this information to Rolando Rodriguez, a journalist at La Prensa. Rodriguez would subsequently release these findings, presenting them as the outcome of an investigation conducted by his unit. This publication would then be utilized by Rolando Rodriguez, the lawyer and former Secretary General of the PGN, to initiate criminal proceedings.
Individuals scrutinized in these criminal proceedings were questioned and subsequently detained in the cells of the DIJ or the police.
After one, two, or three days, the detainee would receive a visit from deputies Adolfo “Beby” Valderrama and José Luis “Popi” Varela, or an emissary who might be a lawyer. They would blatantly extort the individual, threatening prolonged imprisonment unless a substantial 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.
