Detained brothers  “den of thieves” ploy may be stymied

The Martinelli siblings Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares resting in a Guatemala prison while the United States  works on their extradition to face money laundering charges involving at least  $28 million hope to use their membership of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen)  as a get out of jail card   got a reality check on Tuesday, July 7, when  parliamentarian Gilberto Sucari, who is vice president of the regional body, once described by their father as a “den of thieves”.told TVN Noticias: “They have not been sworn in”

According to Suvari, the Martinelli Linares brothers have not submitted the request to be sworn in.

The lawyers of Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto show a note from Carlos Rafael Fión, secretary of the Parlacen board of directors. The letter does not say whether or not they were sworn into office, but it does say that the Electoral Tribunal of Panama issued “credentials” about their election.

The letter that was circulated on Monday, July 6 on the social networks of the deputy Carlos Outten,  the main deputy of Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares. Both are from the Cambio Democrático (CD) party. Luis Enrique Martinelli, meanwhile, is a member of the Alliance party and the principal deputy is Héctor Abdiel Valderrama.

Panama has 20 deputies in the regional forum.