Martinelli court hearing set for May 11

ON MONDAY May 11d at 2:00 pm, in the Hall of Cassation Palacio Gil Ponce, a control hearing will be held within the criminal process against former Panama president, Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal, for the alleged commission of crimes against public administration.

The Court, said that the hearing was requested by defense attorneys Sidney Sitton and Rogelio Cruz, who claim alleged “vices of nullity in processing the case,” reports La Prensa

Sitton said his client cannot be investigated because, he has a criminal electoral jurisdiction, which he acquired after Democratic Change (CD) -party which Martinelli founded and leads convened internal elections next October .

CD called the elections after the Electoral Tribunal (TE) authorized the lifting of immunity which protected Martinelli under the general elections in May 2014.

Martinelli also has status of deputy of the Central American Parliament, a position he assumed July 1, 2014, the same day he ceased to being President of Panama. Previously, Martinelli had condemned Parlacen, and publicly called it a “den of thieves”.

The former leader is being investigated for irregularities in the purchase of $44.9 million dehydrated food by to the company Lerkshore International, with funding from the National Assistance Program (PAN), the past administration. For this case, the public prosecutor requested summons to court for the former director and former head of Nutrition PAN, Giacomo Tamburrelli and Angel Famiglietti, respectively; the excomptroller Gioconda Torres de Bianchini; The ex- secretary of Martinelli, Chichi Adolfo De Obarrio; Lerkshore representative Ruben De Ycaza; and former ministers Lucy Molinar (Education) and Federico José Suárez (Public Works), and exviceministras Maria Fabrega (Chair) and Marta Susana Varela (Social Development). All measures have house arrest or jail country except De Obarrio, whose whereabouts are unknown.

Martinelli’s whereabouts are also not known. He left the country in late January.In mid-April this year, La Prensa traced him to his apartment in the condominium Atlantis on Brickell Avenue, Miami. .

Monday’s hearing will be chaired by Judge Jerome Mejia, who acts as judge of guarantees.