No Court ruling on 8 pardoned cops under homicide investigation
WHILE President Ricardo Martinelli is drawing up his list of pardons to be granted before he leaves office June 30, The Supreme Court (CSJ) has not resolved the claim of unconstitutionality presented four years ago against pardons issued in May 2010 to 47 members of the national police.
Among the beneficiaries of the pardons were eight officers being investigated for homicide? Five were investigated by the public prosecutor for the killing of two fishermen while the other three were charged with the death of a 17-year-old pregnant woman reports La Prensa
The lawsuit was filed by lawyer Juan De Dios Hernández, who argued that the pardons given by Martinelli violated the Constitution, because they benefited people who were being investigated, not convicted.
Article 184 of the Constitution says that the president has the authority to issue pardons for political offences, and reduce sentences or grant freedom for ordinary criminal offences.