Martinelli named potential witness in Berlusconi trial
PANAMA president Ricardo Martinelli ,who is already named as a potential witness in an international corruption case involving Italian consortium Impregilo has now been cited as a witness in a high profile bribery case.
Martinelli is on the list of potential witnesses at the trial of Silvio Berlusconi the former Italian Prime Minister
The list was presented Tuesday, May 3. It is the second time that Martinelli has been summoned to testify for the defense in an Italian corruption trial this year.
Prosecutors are accusing Berlusconi and Valter Lavítola of having paid bribes of up to $4.1 million to the now former Senator Sergio de Gregorio to bring down the government of Romano Prodi in 2008.
Before the Italian magistrates, Martinelli will be asked to testify "about the ties between Silvio Berlusconi and Valter Lavítola" and "their economic relations.”
If called, Martinelli will testify before the judge as a simple observer of criminal acts But in the other case, which is taking place in Naples, Martinelli may be called as a rebuttal witness in a case involving Lavitola for allegedly arranging bribes between an Italian contractor and the government of Panama, reports La Prensa.