Martinelli family offices raided in laundering probe

PUBLIC MINISTRY investigators descended on the offices of Martinelli family owned de Importadora Ricamar, S.A. (Super 99) in Monte Oscuro, on Thursday, Feb.  23.

There they visited the offices of Promotora and Desarrollo Los Andes and the respective offices of the Brothers Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, sons of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli

The raid was part of the investigation by the  Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, of alleged  money laundering in the process arising from  probes by Swiss prosecutors, after freezing accounts for $22 million.of Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares.

Prosecutor  Tania Sterling was at the Ricamar facility. She is investigating Evelyn Vargas Reynaga, the lawyer who managed companies that according to Swiss prosecutors served to deposit millions of dollars into accounts  for the Martinelli sons linked  to Odebrecht bribes.

“The  offices being  searched  today areEvelyn’s offices. It is not  raiding Ricamar or the Super 99, no. It’s Evelyn’s office in Ricamar, ” said Martinelli lawyer Rogelio  Cruz.

Alma Cortés, a former  Martinelli government minister and  a Martinelli lawyer, under criminal investigation for illegal enrichment also appeared.

Martinelli,  in self-imposed exile in Miami, Tweeted that the event was a pre-carnival show and “they know not what they do”