Martinelli arrest and extradition warrants ordered
EX-PANAMA president Ricardo Martinelli’s 64th birthday present on Friday, March 11 from Supreme Court J udge Jeromino Mejia, was an order for his arrest and extradition.
Mejia acting as investigating judge asked the Foreign Ministry to arrange for Martinelli’s detention and extradition to face charges of wiretapping through the National Security Council.
Mejia has appointed a team to undertake efforts to move the arrest warrant forward sais a source in the judiciary.
Martinelli fled Panama on January 28 2015. His defense said he is in Miami, where he has a luxury apartment in the Brickell Avenue area.
On October 9, Judge Harry Diaz-prosecuor in the wire-tapping case – sent a blue notification “issued under the investigation conducted against Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal, for crimes against inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy and others that relate to the 138-15 folder “.
At a hearing on December 11, Mejia declared Martinelli “in absentia” for failing to appear at the event, although he was properly notified.
On December 21, the full Supreme Court of Justice ordered the provisional arrest of Martinelli and authorized t Mejia o take the necessary actions.
Next month two former directors of the National Security Council, Alejandro Garuz and Gustavo Perez, will be tried for intercepting communications of more than 150 businessmen, journalists, civil society leaders and Martinelli political opponents.
