Team Martinelli loses latest court challenge

PANAMA’S Supreme Court has frustrated yet another move by ex-president Ricardo  Martinelli to avoid facing trial for illegal wiretapping, with the prosecutor calling for a 21-year jail term.

The court rejected an Amparo of guarantees, that tried to annul the investigation because of a supposed violation of the electoral law. In a decision on  August 30, it did not admit a safeguard of guarantees presented by one of Martinelli’s lawyers.

The lawsuit sought to change the decision adopted by the judge of guarantees, Jerónimo Mejía, who in a hearing on July 4 denied Martinelli a nullity incident for alleged violation of the electoral law.

The magistrates concluded that the judge of guarantees, did not violate the Constitution and that that decision (to reject the nullity for violation of the electoral law), cannot be pursued through a protection of guarantees. Judge Angela Russo, was the rapporteur of the unanimous decision.

This is the third remedy of protection of guarantees since Martinelli was extradited from the U.S on June 11.

The resolution of seven guarantees and a claim of unconstitutionality are still pending resolution.

Martinelli has been a prisoner in El Renacer penitentiary for four months and the Court has denied him three times requests to leave.

In spite of being imprisoned, Martinelli was elected in the Democratic Change primary, as a candidate for

a deputy for the circuit 8-8. In addition, he has a political team working on the collection of signatures to run

as an independent candidate for Mayor of Panama.

On October 1, the technical board of El Renacer applied a sanction to Martinelli of 30 days without receiving visits, phone calls or exits to the courtyard. The punishment was given because he threatened prison guards.