Four years on – seeking justice for Martinelli wiretap victims

PANAMA’S Public Ministry (MP)  has announced that it is ready and prepared to attend the of hearing in the case of two key players for the unauthorized interception of communications by the National Security Council (CSN), which is scheduled for  September 3 to 14.

The alternate date would be November 12 to 23.

“There have been 150 victims who have had to wait more than four years to do them justice, ”  senior organized crime prosecutor, Ricaurte Gonzalez told La Prensa, adding that the MP has conducted a thorough investigation.

It is, he said, a “very serious” situation, in which the victims had their communications listened to, by those who had access to their intimate information, and that allowed them in some way, “to damage the honor of these people”.

“We are ready to attend the hearing so we can clarify the criminal responsibility of those who committed this serious situation, “he added.

Alejandro Garuz,  and Gustavo Pérez (former secretaries of the CSN) and two ex-agents are accused of intercepting the communications of up to 150 businessmen, journalists, civil society leaders and politicians opposed to former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014).