http://www.theage.com.au/world/panama-rejects-bequest-to-needy-20101004-1649y.html
Panama rejects bequest to needy Rory Carroll, Panama City October 5, 2010 IT WAS going to be the largest single charitable donation in Panama's history: more than $US50 million ($A52 million) for poor children. Wilson Lucom, a US tycoon, left most of his estate to a foundation to help the neediest people in the country where he lived until his death in 2006, aged 88. Now, four years later, after a bitter legal battle, the fortune is going to one of Panama's most powerful dynasties and the poor have been left without a cent. Panama's Supreme Court declared Mr Lucom's will void in August, it has emerged, giving the entire estate to his widow, Hilda, the ailing, octogenarian matriarch of the Arias family, which has extensive media, property and financial interests. ''That money could have helped a lot of children. If that family keeps it, God will not forgive them,'' said Hector Avila, head of a children's charity. ''In this country political and economic forces weigh more than justice.'' In 1982, Mr Lucom married Hilda Piza de Arias, the former wife of a Panamanian politician. In the 1990s, they moved to Panama, where the Arias family sold a 2800-hectare hacienda, Santa Monica, to Mr Lucom. Mr Lucom sprang a surprise upon his death. His will granted his wife a monthly stipend of $US20,000 and gave her children one-off payments ranging from $US50,000 to $US200,000. But the hacienda was to be sold off and the proceeds given to a newly created foundation for poor children. His widow launched a legal battle against Richard Lehman, Mr Lucom's longtime lawyer. Several lower courts upheld the will as reflecting Mr Lucom's last wishes but Panama's Supreme Court declared it void last month, arguing that Mr Lucom's reference to his ''beloved wife'' showed he really wanted her to inherit the estate. GUARDIAN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
