A bullet hit the window of Supreme Court Chief Justice MarÃa Eugenia López's office on January 31, 2025. This prompted the Judicial Branch to rent a bulletproof vehicle for her protection.
The Judicial Branch (OJ) contracted Panamá Inspiration Travel for a 30-day rental of a level III armored vehicle for $70,620. The vehicle can withstand bullets from a .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum, 9mm, and .38 caliber weapons.
The OJ cited the nature of the Chief Justice's position and the recent attack as reasons for the exceptional security measure. The contract was justified under Article 79, numeral 1, of Law 22 of 2006, which allows for the rental of irreplaceable goods and services.
An investigation was launched by the Prosecutor's Office, but two months later, no official statement has been released regarding the incident or any suspects.