A Panamanian court has decided to “categorically reject” the requests submitted by the lawyer of Luis Enrique and Ricardo Martinelli son for the “suspension of the arrest warrant” against them, the Panamanian justice explained in a statement.
Two sons of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who are jailed in the US and are expected to be released and extradited next week, will be arrested as soon as they are allowed back home, where they face charges of money laundering from the bribes of the Brazilian construction group Odebrecht, the Panamanian justice announced yesterday Monday.
A Panamanian court has decided to “categorically reject” the requests submitted by the lawyer of Luis Enrique and Ricardo Martinelli son for the “suspension of the arrest warrant” against them, the Panamanian justice explained in a statement.
The former president’s two sons are expected to complete their three-year prison sentences for corruption in the US on January 25.
However, both are accused by the Panamanian authorities, as is the former president, of laundering the proceeds of criminal activity, derived from bribes from the Brazilian giant construction company, which they had taken as a commission to favor the awarding of public contracts to Odebrecht when their father was in power (2009-2014).
On January 3, the lawyer for the two brothers, Carlos Carrillo, told AFP that his principals had paid $14 million in bail to avoid arrest upon their return.
However, the court ruled that it is not possible to revoke the arrest warrant, the rationale for which had been “adequately analyzed and discussed” when a decision was made on their request to be released on bail.
The Martinelli brothers are expected to be “surrendered” to the Panamanian authorities by the American authorities in order to be questioned as part of the “investigations” carried out by the Panamanian judiciary, the Attorney General of the Central American country, Javier Caravaggio, said yesterday Monday.
The sons of the former Panamanian president were sentenced in 2022 in the US to serve three years in prison and pay a $250,000 fine for taking $28 million in bribes from Odebrecht, $19 million of which they transferred to US bank accounts.
Before the American justice, the two brothers argued that they were pressured by their father, on whose behalf they were acting, to accept the bribes.
The Odebrecht Group has admitted to US courts that it paid more than $788 million in bribes, mostly to politicians in Latin America, to secure contracts for public works.
Former head of state Ricardo Martinelli, a 70-year-old wealthy businessman who notably owns a supermarket chain, has announced his intention to run again for the presidency in the elections to be held in Panama in 2024.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
