US negates Martinelli escape route

Former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli could be prosecuted for as many as a dozen cases that are not related to the wiretapping trial for which he was extradited from the United States in June 2018.

The United States Department of State, says the former plaintiff would no longer be protected under the principle of specialty extradition matters.

In a note addressed to the Public Ministry (MP), Thomas Heinemann the Counselor of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Department of State, indicated that, from now on, the principle of specialty contemplated in the extradition treaty signed by both countries in 1904 would not apply to the former president.

At the time, Panama’s  Supreme Court (CSJ) admitted at least 9 cases in which it was intended to investigate the ex-president reports TVN: Among them:

Impregilo extortion
Purchase of grains through the PAN
Isthmus Collections
Financial Pacific
353 illegal pardons
Embezzlement in Bahia Honda.

Last October, the Public Ministry (MP) requested control hearing before an investigating judge to authorize him to investigate the ex-leader for alleged embezzlement to the detriment of the Savings Bank and for alleged extortion of former mayor Bosco Vallarino.

In addition, there is the case called New Business , in which the purchase of the  Epasa Group  which publishes PanamaAmerica and Critica, allegedly with public funds  is investigated.