Martinelli lawyers seeking to duck wiretapping trial

THE LAWYERS of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli will continue their battle to keep their client from being tried the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), on Wednesday, June 17 a control hearing will be held control at the request of the defense in the prosecution for the alleged offense against the inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy (wiretapping).

The hearing, scheduled for 3:00 pm, was requested by the lawyer Sidney Sitton. In this case, judge Harry Diaz acts as prosecutor. Judge Jerome Mejia serves as collateral. It is the first hearing of control.
The defense has filed appeals in which it argues that Martinelli cannot be investigated in this case because, he supposedly, enjoys criminal jurisdiction immunity since his party Democratic Change (CD), is in a process of internal elections that conclude in October. The (TE) Electoral Tribunal has denied that this circumstance any jurisdiction.

The former leader is being investigated by the interception of communications of 150 businessmen, journalists, and leaders of civil society opponents of his government, by the National Security Council, between 2012 and 2014. In this case, the prosecution requested l trial for former directors of the Board, Alejandro Garuz and Gustavo Perez, and two former officials now fugitives. Garuz and Perez have been preventively detained since January.
Martinelli has another ongoing case, related to the purchase of dehydrated Lerkshore International, with funding from the National Assistance Program (PAN) foods. This company received nearly $60 million in contracts to supply dehydrated food to public schools.
Martinelli must be investigated by the Supreme Court, because on July 1 was sworn in as deputy of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN).