There is a “danger of flight” abroad, according to a court announcement
Judge Baloisa Marquines yesterday Thursday ordered the arrest of the former president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), who fled to the embassy of Nicaragua, a country that granted him political asylum.
Mrs. Markines “ordered the pre-trial detention” of Mr. Martinelli, 71, because there is a “danger of flight” abroad, according to a court announcement.
Mr Martinelli was sentenced last year to serve 128 months (ten years and six months) in prison and pay a fine of more than $19 million for money laundering. The case concerned the purchase in 2010 with public money of the majority of the shares of the media group Editora Panamá América, which owns the newspaper of the same name and the popular newspapers CrÃtica and DÃa a DÃa.
The right-wing former president was granted asylum by Nicaragua and took refuge in that country’s embassy earlier this month, days after his last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected.
Managua asked the Panamanian authorities to guarantee his “speedy departure” and “safe passage” to Nicaragua where he was granted asylum on “humanitarian” grounds. Panama rejected the request.
The Supreme Court decision buried Mr. Martinelli’s hopes of being re-elected to the Panamanian presidency in May elections. The person concerned denounced an “illegal last-minute maneuver” to be excluded from the elections.
The wealthy businessman, who notably owns a chain of supermarkets, emerged as the winner in July 2023 in the internal party process of his faction for the nomination of its candidate in the upcoming elections. According to opinion polls, he was the frontrunner among the 10 contenders for the highest office.
Riccardo Martinelli, a millionaire when he was elected president in 2009, became the target of several investigations into corruption scandals after his term ended.
In 2021, he was acquitted in his trial for spying on opponents and journalists and misusing public funds.
Mr. Martinelli is also expected to stand trial in July, after the May 5 election, for his alleged involvement in the much-vaunted Brazilian construction company Odebrecht scandal, which has swept presidents and other politicians across Latin America. This company, which has now changed its name, distributed tens of millions in bribes in the region in order to be awarded public works.
Source :Skai
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