Ex chief judge denies secret meetings on Martinelli

Supreme Court judge  José Ayú Prado whose recent overnight resignation as Court president, while he was looking for reelection surprised legal circles,  denies that he has held meetings  in his office to discuss the protection of constitutional guarantees presented by Ricardo Martinelli against the decision of the Judge of Guarantees, Jerónimo  Mejía, to maintain the competence of the hearing of  the former president for wiretapping, and embezzlement.

“Ayú Prado clarifies to the general public that he has not met with alternate judges Efren Tello, Luis Mario Carrasco and Wilfredo Sáenz Fernández, neither before nor after the ordinary meeting of Thursday, July 5, 2018, to discuss any topic, including the protection of constitutional guarantees against a decision of a magistrate of guarantees “, said a press release released  by the Judiciary on Friday.

The plenary of the Court, meeting on  Thursday, put on the agenda the admission or rejection of the protection of constitutional guarantees presented by Martinelli’s defense against the decision of Judge Mejía, that the CSJ maintain the competence of the case of the wiretapping case.

Judicial sources confirmed that the magistrates Hernán De León, Tello (deputy Luis) Ramón Fábrega) and Alonso (substitute of Ayú Prado) would promote a draft decision in which they would decline the competence of the CSJ and would order the case sent to the Sixteenth Criminal Court, as requested by  Martinelli.

Before the plenary meeting, De León, Tello and Mojica  would have been in Ayú  Prado’s office

At no time was mentioned the participation of Carrasco in this meeting, as Ayú Prado alleges in his clarification. Ayú Prado, however, did not deny having met with De Leon.

The counterproject of these three – De León, Tello, and Mojica  – would be contrary to the elaborate ruling by Oydén Ortega, who – as rapporteur for the amparo – considers that the CSJ should maintain its competency

Ortega’s project is supported by Abel Zamorano and Luis Mario Carrasco.

Ayú Prado, in the press release issued by the Judicial Organ, assures that the meeting

held in his office before the plenary session, was to deal with “issues” of the

implementation of the accusatory criminal system “and the $14 million budget deficit of the  Judicial Organ.

The Supreme Court reported that by a plenary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, July 11.