Lawyers view Martinelli extradition request

LAWYERS for former President Ricardo Martinelli have been allowed access to the file involving the long delayed  extradition request submitted by Supreme Court Justice Jerome Mejia.

Lawyer Rogelio Cruz said that 95 percent of the file had been translated into English.

According to Cruz, Foreign Affairs Legal Director Farah Urrutia  told them that the request would be reviewed in a transparent manner before sending it to the Panama embassy in Washington for submission to United States officials.

Cruz said he thinks that the request by Mejia will be refused “because it does not comply with the requirements established by law.”

The Supreme Court sent the request on May 26 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for charges that Martinelli ordered illegal surveillance while in office.

The Foreign Ministry reported that it will proceed with the review of the documentation to see if it meets the legal requirements.