Attorney General Investigating Police Chief for Plan Kidnap

Attorney General-in charge, Guiseppe Bonissi,  told La Estrella that the Public Ministry is investigating National Police Chief Gustavo Perez’s participation in the kidnapping of American civilians during the 1989 Just Cause invasion.

“I gave instructions immediately after the news hit the media to begin an official investigation,” the attorney general said, proving the independence of the Public Ministry.  ”I am gathering information in order to verify each situation that has been made public.”

Back in the 1980s, Gustavo Perez was part of the Special Antiterrorism Unit, some of the best trained troops under the Noriega regime.  A few hours after the United States invaded Panama in 1989, a hundred men led by Perez arrived to the Marriott Hotel (today the Sheraton) to put Plan Kidnap into effect.  The troops held a group of tourists hostage for a few hours before releasing them for lack of further orders.

Following an investigation three months after the fact, a disciplinary board recommended on March 22, 1990 that Perez be discharged for dishonoring the police by kidnapping civilians.  The police chief says he was just following orders at the time.

Perez is currently traveling with President Martinelli on a special mission to the Middle East. Martinelli stated on February 25th that he knew of Perez’s past and is supporting him.