Martinelli upsets judge refuses medicine, medical examination

Ex-President Ricardo Martinelli has refused to be evaluated by specialized personnel of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf), as ordered by Supreme Court Judge Jerónimo Mejía,

It is the latest  bizarre twist in the process against  the former  ruler who is  facing charges that could lead to a 21-year jail term, and Mejía, the Judge of Guarantees  who ordered the examination is not amused.

Martinelli  is  charged with the crimes against inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy, and against public administration (embezzlement).

Sidney Sitton, Martinelli’s lawyer, indicated that the refusal of his client  was because  his lawyers were not present.

That was not to Mejia’s liking: “We are waiting for these reports … It will be clear that the order I gave to be evaluated, is going to be fulfilled. And the lawyers they must tell their client  that there is no such thing as  ‘if my

lawyer is not present, they do not evaluate me’, “said the magistrate.

“I am sending him to  be evaluated for his health.in ensuring that Mr. Martinelli is assured of his health, but I am also interested in the cooperation of whoever claims that his  health is in question, be fulfilled … It’s very easy to say ‘I feel bad’, but not let it be attended to. I’m preventing it from becoming a subterfuge, “he added.

Mejía made the statements during an act called to take a statement from

Leonardo Labrador, doctor in charge of the El Renacer rehabilitation center, who received Martinelli at the Tocumen airport, when he arrived from the United States on Monday, June 11. That same day, Labrador did a “complete examination” of Martinelli in El Renacer. In his statement, he said that at one point, the former president refused to take a pill that It would have helped his blood pressure stabilize. Labrador was, in addition, the doctor who communicated to Mejía, on Monday night, that Martinelli had a hypertensive crisis and should be hospitalized. At that time, the former president was examined by three cardiologists, which Labrador identified as doctors González, Méndez and O’Neill,

The defense also asked Mejía to “notify” the full plenary hearing request to review the precautionary measure of provisional detention.

“That’s not my competence … He’s making me his errand boy,” said the judge to Sitton.

Prosecuting  magistrate Harry Díaz informed Mejía that the victims of the “punctures” and their plaintiffs’ attorneys have been attacked by apparent sympathizers of Martinelli. Balbina Herrera, for example, was hit with a bottle of water on her neck. Diaz said that a plaintiff lawyer did not even want to go to the hearing on  Tuesday, because he fears for his security. Mejía indicated that he will take measures.

“I also have an obligation to guarantee the rights of the victims,” the judge said. The hearing, which was called for 10:00 a.m., began at 1:28 p.m. At 2:44 p.m.,

Martinelli is prosecuted for the unauthorized interception of at least 150 people –

between politicians, trade unionists, journalists, members of civil society and businessmen-, from the National Security Council, in the last two years of his mandate.

Magistrate Harry Diaz acting  as prosecutor in the case accuses the former president for the supposed commission of four crimes: interception of telecommunications without judicial authorization; monitoring, prosecution and surveillance without judicial authorization; embezzlement. Díaz asks for a 21-year prison sentence.