Marta Martinelli seeks to muzzle media to protect family image

PANAMA’S former first lady Marta Linares de  Martinelli has s filed a claim “for family protection and the family image”, in which she asks La Prensa to cease and refrain from disclosing and publishing facts or situations of a private nature, “As part of a media campaign” against her family.

Five journalists from La Prensa attended the Family Court on Tuesday. August 21

The claim arises from reports in  La Prensa, which mention the link of her children with the Odebrecht case, under investigation by the Special Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office.

In the lawsuit, which was filed by lawyer Jamie Acosta, the attorney for the former first lady, the publications “have undermined the human dignity, honor and decorum” of the families Martinelli Berrocal, Martinelli Linares and Linares Brin de Martinelli, and are infringing on the articles 577 and 578 of the Family and Minors Code reports La Prensa.

The lawsuit seeks to “order print media,  television, radio and social networks, and especially La Prensa,  to cease and abstain from disclosing  or publishing  facts and situations of a private and family nature, and the first and last name or general surnames of the family group, as part of a media campaign against members of this Panamanian family. “

The journalists Rolando Rodríguez – associate director of La Prensa-, Eliana Morales, Yolanda Sandoval, Juan Manuel Díaz and Olmedo Rodríguez appeared in court reports La Prensa

All answered questions as witnesses of the process and stated that the notes were based on reports of the judicial proceedings against members of the Martinelli Linares family.

Swiss probes
“We, in general, have responded that the reason why they are mentioned is because of the investigations carried out by local and Swiss authorities, Brazil and other countries. That is the reason for the mention of these people in the news, “said Rolando Rodriguez.

“The intention of this demand is for the media to refrain from mentioning the name of the Martinelli Linares family in cases that are carried out in the courts of justice … It is absurd that the Martinelli family ask that this is not mentioned when it is already of public character p and its research is well known in other countries and here, “said Rodríguez. Neither the former first lady nor her lawyer attended the proceeding.