OFF THE CUFF: Frequent shopper Martinelli

Ex-President Ricardo Martinelli,  who has become a frequent shopper at Hospital Santo Tomas, since his return to the country last month got another break from his home in the  El Renacer Penitentiary on Wednesday, July 25  when he was taken for two medical appointments.

Sources close to the ex-ruler said that the first appointment was related to a review of the device placed to monitor his heart rate. The second was to do with a medical review for a hernia. It was not specified where he has a hernia.

Martinelli also did not have to shuffle to his appointments wearing leg chains as other prisoners do, past patients waiting in line to see medical specialists.

On Tuesday, July 24, the intermediate hearing for Martinelli was not resumed, because the

Prosecutor, Judge Harry Diaz, presented a medical disability. It will resume Monday, July 30,

The hearing was suspended on July 16, after Martinelli’s defense presented objections to the indictment and the judge of guarantees, Judge Jerónimo Mejía, gave five working days for Diaz and the defense to agree on some corrections to the indictment and on a defense request to reveal the identity of the protected witness.