The Panamanian Ministry of Government, headed by Dinoska Montalvo, awarded a $37.2 million contract to Sprintico Corp. for electronic monitoring bracelets for inmates. This follows an earlier, withdrawn proposal for a similar contract.
Concerns arise due to Sprintico Corp.'s links to a company implicated in money laundering and associated with the sale of Pegasus spyware in Mexico. The company's treasurer, Medardo Rangel Guevara, previously worked for the Comptroller General's office and was a director of Stavton Corporation, linked to individuals involved in the Pegasus sales. Stavton received funds from companies used to transfer resources and complicate financial oversight, according to Mexican authorities. The use of the Relialert XC3 bracelets, at a price higher than comparable models in the United States, also raised questions.
The Ministry of Government has not disclosed whether other companies were considered for the contract. The justification for direct contracting cites the need for confidentiality regarding the equipment's specifications. The director of the Penitentiary System, Jorge Torregroza, stated that Sprintico Corp. was the only provider meeting the required standards.
A prior proposal for a smaller contract with Sprintico Corp. was withdrawn without explanation during Laurentino Cortizo's presidency. Former Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, while unaware of Sprintico Corp., stated that a pilot program for electronic monitoring bracelets started in 2021 to address prison overcrowding. The current contract entails 2,000 devices for six years, with a daily cost per bracelet significantly higher than comparable options.