Company chief accused of pyramid scheme arrested in Panama

By Fernando Ramos
CNN en Espanol
BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) - The head of a Colombian company accused of
defrauding millions of investors has been arrested in Panama and immediately
deported to Colombia, officials announced Thursday.

David Murcia Guzman, president of a company called DMG, was arrested
Wednesday night and taken to Cartagena, Colombia, under the direction of
Colombia's police chief, Gen. Oscar Naranjo, authorities said.Murcia's lawyers, citing security concerns, have asked that he be held at
a military facility.

Two of seven DMG principals sought by authorities also were arrested
Wednesday, said officials in Bogota.

Thousands of defrauded investors are supposed to start getting their
money back Thursday under a government plan. But other investors are planning a
march in support of Murcia and DMG. There have been several such marches in
various cities since last week.

On Monday, the Colombian government declared a state of emergency,
allowing officials to take over businesses that have used pyramid schemes to
steal millions of dollars from 3 million investors.