tribunal, in that he was not heard personally and not served sufficiently motivated indictments. He further complains that, at all times, he was denied access to legal counsel and that he was never brought before a judge; he emphasizes that these elements constitute not only violations of the Covenant but also serious violations of Panamanian law. 3.2 It is further submitted that the judicial proceedings in the case were unreasonably prolonged! in particular, the Juzcrado Primero of San Miguelito only rendered its judgement in respect of the allegedly uncovered chegue of $169 in September 1988, over four and a half years after Mr. Wolf's arrest. 3.3 As to the conditions of detention, the author complains about illtreatment in the Modelo prison (see para. 2.8 above). He adds that he had to perform forced labour at Coiba prison although no sentence had been pronounced against him. In the latter context, be claims, in general terms, that inmates on Coiba are physically abused, beaten, tied to trees, denied food and obliged to buy some of their food from the prison commander, who is said to confiscate 40 per cent of the food sent from Panama City and then sell it to the inmates. State party's information and observations 4.1 The State party contends/ in submissions made both before and after the Committee's decision on admissibility, that the communication is inadmissible on the ground of non-exhaustion of domestic remedies and observes that criminal proceedings were still pending against him. It explains that "Panama's legal system provides effective remedies under its criminal law against [for example] the committal decision taken pursuant to articles 2426 to 2428 of the Panamanian Code of Criminal Procedure. The applicant faces a number of criminal charges in connection with which no judgement has yet been given; the normal procedure is being followed. He may, however, appeal to a higher court against the committal decision, in addition to resorting to all the remedies specified under criminal law". 4.2 As to the facts of the case, the State party notes that on 16 September 1985, the author was sentenced to three years' and seven months' imprisonment for 11 counts of cheque fraud, a/ Had he served the full term, he would have been released on 8 January 1988. He was, however, released on parole by Executive Decision of 24 November 1986, signed jointly by the President of Panama and the Minister of the Interior and Justice; he was free after that date, until he was rearrested for further offences, b/ 4.3 Concerning the further judicial proceedings against Mr. Wolf, the State party explains that on 15 September 1988 the Juzqado Primero of San Miguelito found the author guilty of signing an uncovered chegue to the order of a supermarket, and sentenced him to two years' and 10 months' imprisonment and an additional 87-cEay fine at the rate of 2.5 balboas a day. At the same time, the Juzgado Octavo continued to investigate one further charge of fraud against the Compania Xerox de Panama, and another one of forgery to the detriment of Apartotel Tower House Suites. Mr. Wolf was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on the first charge; he appealed, and the case was transferred to the Second High Court of Justice (Segundo Tribunal Superior de Justicia), which ordered the Juzqado Ouinto to join the indictments and pronounce a single sentence. In the second case, oral proceedings had been scheduled but could not proceed, because the accused had left Panamanian territory. -279-