Interpol red alert for ex-president Martinelli
AN INTERPOL Red Alert was formally issued on Monday, May 22 at the request of the Supreme Court for the location and arrest of former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli,
The court is investigating Martinelli for the illegal interception of communications by the National Security Council during his government (2009 -2014).
The information was confirmed Monday by the National Police, and Martinelli is now officially a wanted man
On Dec. 21, 2015, the plenary of the Court ordered the provisional arrest of the former president. According to the plenary, the decision was based on a decision by Judge Jerónimo Mejía after Martinelli failed to appear at a hearing in December.
“The absence of Martinelli prevents the development and completion of the process,” said the ruling.
Martinelli was declared “in default” by Mejía at the hearing. On the same day, four applications for provisional detention were filed: one by prosecutor Harry Díaz and the other three by attorneys
Carlos Herrera Morán, Rosendo Rivera and Ángel Álvarez, attorneys for the victims.
If found guilty, he would face up to 21 years in prison.
A red alert for Martinelli’s two sons has been in place since February. They face charges of money laundering in connection with alleged bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.
