Judge sitting on Martinelli arrest file

SUPREME COURT Judge Jeronimo  has wrapped himself in a cloak of silence about the criminal case against former President Ricardo Martinelli for allegedly ordering illegal wiretaps.

Three months have elapsed  since  any word has come from his  office .On Jan. 25, Mejia told victims and complainants in the process that he had initiated the translation of about 2,000 pages in the case file to formally submit the request for the arrest of Martinelli to authorities in the United States. The arrest was ordered by the Supreme Court Dec. 23.

That was the last public statement by the judge on the case.

Unofficially, the judge apparently requested that Martinelli be detained for purposes of extradition However, since that date, the judge has been silent and has not confirmed if it is true or not reports La Prensa.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry says that it has not received any request from the court.

On March 14, Police Director Omar Pinzón confirmed that Mejia sent him a note which asked for the arrest of Martinelli in Panama.

The next day, Pinzón responded to the judge that  the former president was not in Panama.

Mejía has declined to comment on the matter says La Prensa.