Acquitted ex-president;s victory lap as Supreme Court judge voices “disgust”

Ec president Ricardo Martinelli did a series of victory laps through Panama shopping malls accompanied by bodyguards and a  group of  CD supporters on Saturday, August 10, to celebrate his acquittal on charges of illegal wiretapping of political opponents, journalists, and businessmen.

His tour coincided with a declaration by Supreme Court  Judge, Harry Diaz that  “These judges of oral judgment are a shame. Legal scrutiny and the submission of morals under the rampant corruption that plagues us. I am disgusted to death. What a shame! The whole process is cleared in the intermediate phase. It is not a matter of discussion. of the oral trial phase, “he said.

Díaz acted as prosecutor of the case from its admission, in June 2015, until December 7, 2018, when the Supreme Court declined the competence of the case after Martinelli’s strategic resignation as deputy of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen).

On October 9, 2015, Díaz filed an indictment in which he requested a sentence of 21 years in prison for the alleged commission of four crimes: interception of communications without judicial authorization; monitoring, persecution, and surveillance without judicial authorization; subtraction, and use peculation.

Martinelli’s victory celebration could prove premature as the Public Ministry considers appeals that could reach the Supreme Court.