Noriegas house arrest extended

FORMER military dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega  has had his temporary house arrest   extended to a year because of his frail health.

The order was made in Chiriquí on Tuesday. May 9,   by Judge Katherine Pitti.

The former dictator is serving a sentence for the murder of Hugo Spadafora Franco. He had previously been held in El Renacer prison, but was moved to house arrest prior to brain surgery.

The compliance hearing was initially set for April 28, but

was postponed until Tuesday.

During the hearing, Judge Pitti said that medical reports, including those of the Institute for Forensic Medicine and doctors at Santo Tomas Hospital confirmed his health status.

The judge ruled that updates need to be submitted monthly and that visits to the former dictator have to be regulated.