Martinelli false pardons court hearing

EX-PRESIDENT Ricardo Martinelli  has been called to Panama’s Supreme Court for  an imputation  hearing on May 10 over the 355 pardons he issued  hours before he left office.

The President e of the Supreme Court José Ayú Prado, acting as judge of guarantees, fixed the date in Mobday April 3 after a preliminary hearing .

When  he denied an appeal filed by the Martinelli’s mandatario’s defense against the request for a hearing of imputation, petitioned by Judge Abel Zamorano, acting as Prosecutor of the case.

Judge Ayú Prado informed the Judicial Office of the date of the hearing so that Martinelli a deputy of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), be notified of the judicial procedure.

According to lawyer Carrillo, the actions of former President Martinelli in pardons were given within the functions granted him by the Law, but he emphasized that in this case there is no crime, since subsequently the President of the Republic Juan Carlos Varela voided the decrees issued by Martinelli.

Prosecutor Zamorano emphasized that he has the necessary elements to charge Martinelli with the 353 pardons.

Martinelli has over a dozen outstanding cases for various crimes, including wiretapping, embezzlement and corruption. He has failed to appear at any of the hearings, but is represented by a growing battery of prominent lawyers, and a crowd of drum beating supporters from the CD party he founded and financed, who routinely  turn up on the court steps when he is called,