Interpol Alert Stands for Aaron Mizrachi in SAP Corruption Probe

Image Courtesy: Aaron Mizrachi

Aaron Mizrachi, the brother-in-law of former President Ricardo Martinelli, is under an active Interpol red alert in a corruption probe related to a software contract with German company SAP.

Mizrachi escaped on Martinelli’s private jet in July 2015 when investigators were nearing a case about purchasing spy equipment for Martinelli’s surveillance program targeting opponents, judges, journalists, and businessmen.

On the same day, authorities disclosed that Mizrachi’s company, Caribbean Holding Services, funneled payments to the Israeli NSO Group, the supplier of the surveillance equipment, as he departed from Albrook airport.

On June 9, Judge Alina Hubiedo dismissed a defense motion, refusing to halt Aaron Mizrachi’s arrest. Interpol had issued a red alert in April. Judge Hubiedo emphasized the gravity of the offense as it involved “an act against the public administration.

The judge cited the testimony of Andrew Robinson, an FBI agent involved in the U.S.-based investigation of the contract.

That testimony showed that SAP Vice President Vicente García (now jailed in the US) agreed to pay bribes in exchange for state contracts. Robinson said that Mizrachi met with Garcia at a hotel in Panama to arrange for the payments.

Furthermore, Robinson detailed email exchanges between Mizrachi and Garcia, discussing the bribes. Allegedly, Mizrachi insisted on a 10 percent payment to secure SAP’s contract, funneling the money through his owned marketing company.

Mizrachi’s son, Mayer, is currently held in custody in Colombia, awaiting extradition on separate criminal charges related to offenses against the administration. Mayer allegedly accepted payment for encrypting government software security programs but failed to deliver. He was apprehended in December upon arriving from the United States.