A Panamanian court ordered this Thursday the preventive detention of former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), granted asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama after being sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for money laundering in the case known as 'New Business'.
In addition, a second arrest request was added related to the Odebrecht case, for which the former Panamanian president will go to trial.
The decision linked to 'New Business' case', which was taken by Judge Baloísa Marquínez, analyzed “the seriousness of the crime charged, the risk of flight evidenced by the conduct of the sentenced person, the need to guarantee the effectiveness of the judicial process and the non-compliance with the precautionary measure of reporting”, the Judicial Body (OJ) of Panama said in a statement.
“It is concluded that the preventive detention against the convicted former president is proportional and necessary to ensure the appearance of the sanctioned person before justice and safeguard the interests of society.“said the OJ.
The judge ordered Martinelli's preventive detention after admitting a request from the Prosecutor's Office to change the precautionary measure initially issued preventing him from leaving the country.
Last January 15 was the last time that the former ruler reported to comply with said precautionary measure.which, according to the Court, “reveals, since that date, a failure to comply with its procedural obligations, which further aggravates the risk of flight, especially when the case is only waiting for requests for clarification to be resolved.”
The former ruler was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of money laundering in the so-called 'New Business' casea complex plot to irregularly purchase Editorial Panamá América SA (Epasa) which publishes three newspapers.
After the sentence became final on February 2 after his appeal was rejected, Martinelli took refuge in the diplomatic headquarters of Nicaragua on February 7, alleging that the sentence was political persecution against him to prevent him from participating in the elections on May 5 as a presidential candidate.
Odebrecht Case
In addition to the 'New Business' case, Judge Marquínez also ordered the preventive detention of Martinelli “within the process followed for the crime against the economic order in the form of money laundering, in the so-called Odebrecht case”.
The judge resolved it this way after a request from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office to change the precautionary measure to Martinelli, “since he has shown an intention to evade Panamanian justice by being granted political asylum by the Republic of Nicaragua,” the statement said. .
The former president was acquitted twice in the case known as “Pinchazos” (illegal eavesdropping), but he still has to face Odebrecht's trial for money laundering with his two children.
In Spain he is also being investigated for alleged corruption due to bribes that the Spanish construction company FCC confessed to having paid in Panama, and also for the alleged espionage of a woman on the island of Mallorca.
Martinelli remains asylum in the diplomatic headquarters of Nicaragua after being denied the request for safe conduct necessary to travel to Nicaraguan territory.
EFE
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