Martinelli signed asylum order for Colombian fleeing justice — Vice President

PRESIDENT Ricardo Martinelli personally signed the exective order giving asylum to a Colombian fleeing  charges of  espionage.  aggravated conspiracy, abuse of public office, and embezzlement.

Vice President, Juan Carlos Varela, said  on Telemetro Reports  Monday, December 19,  that  Martinelli,  granted  territorial asylum to Maria del Pilar Hurtado, former director of the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) of Colombia, accused of wire tapping judges, journalists and opposition politicians.

 Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, made a formal request for extradition of Hurtado. 

Panama’s Foreign Ministry reported that, "like all extradition requests that are received in this institution, we will proceed to examine the documentation submitted in order to determine the feasibility of the same in accordance with national and international law."

Panama is home to numerous former high level dignitaries, wanted for crimes like embezzlement or human rights violations