OFF THE CUFF: Martinellis brother declares innocence

OFF THE CUFF: Martinelli’s brother declares innocence
Mario Martinelli, brother of former President Ricardo Martinelli, underwent a medical evaluation on Friday, July 31, prior to his planned interview with prosecutors investigating alleged irregularities in the purchase of school backpacks by the National Assistance Program (PAN).
He also joined the growing list of suspects in multiple corruption investigations involving hundreds of millions of dollars who have voiced their “innocence,” but did not utter his brother’s mantra “political persecution.
The evaluation was carried out at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. Martinelli, who has been banned from leaving the country, suffers from diabetes, according to his lawyer.
“I am innocent,” Martinelli said on entering the medical office. He also criticized leaks that have been made about the case.
“I think that they are doing the work of La Prensa newspaper, because I see articles with information I don’t even know yet, such as that I would be charged and that I had to come here,” he added.
Martinelli has been linked to two companies that allegedly sold backpacks to the PAN at inflated prices. He is also under investigation for allegedly selling grains to PAN at grossly inflated prices,