Martinelli helicopter seized in Mexico
A HELICOPTER allegedly purchased with money laundering funds by one of the sons of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli, has been seized on the orders of Panama prosecutors.
The helicopter with registration number N1626L, in the name of Silver Wing Corp. was seized in Tapachula, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico.
It is presumed to have been acquired by Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares “with funds from money
laundering,”
The information was confirmed by the Special AntiCorruption Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares, sons of former President Ricardo Martinelli, for the alleged receipt of bribes from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
An Interpol red alert for the arrest of the sons is in place.
The helicopter was located following a judicial assistance request sent by prosecutor Tania Sterling to Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico.
Guatemala reported on March 11 that the aircraft flew from La Aurora Airport to El Salvador.
Thursday, March 30 Salvadoran authorities warned that the helicopter departed for Tapachula, Mexico, where it was seized Friday.
Miami bound
Its final destination was Miami, where the former president has been living since he fled Panama on Jan. 28, 2015.
Earlier, Evelyn Vargas Reynaga, a lawyer for Martinelli Linares, told prosecutors that the helicopter was acquired in the name of Silver Wing, Corp.
