Court rules three strikes against Martinelli

The guarantee judge Elquis Martínez denied on Tuesday, May 18 three appeals with which former President Ricardo Martinelli made in the illegal wiretapping retrial to be heard on June 22

In the three appeals, the defense of the ex-governor alleged that rights were infringed.

Alfredo Vallarino, Martinelli’s lawyer, argued that the fundamental rights of his client were affected in the first trial that followed due to the wiretaps since the accusation was not presented to him. Likewise, it affirmed that in said process Article 191 of the Constitution was violated, which establishes the crimes for which an acting President can be sentenced.

The judge, however, concluded that the Supreme Court has already rejected the premises inherent in the indictment of Martinelli and the application of Article 191 of the Constitution and that the decisions of that corporation are final and unappealable.

Vallarino also alleged that the charges for crimes against the inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy imputed to his client have already expired.

However, the judge indicated that Martinelli’s defense did not present the documents with the dates with which the alleged prescription could be analyzed.

Prosecutor Ricaurte González and lawyer Carlos Herrera Morán -the latter defender of several of the plaintiffs in the process- also opposed the arguments of Martinelli’s defense and with regard to the accusation, they highlighted that the Court has already formally declared the ex-ruler accused.

Herrera Morán said that these resources only seek to delay the second trial, set for June 22.

He explained that these hearings on the infringement of rights have no significance since the alleged issues have already been overcome in the intermediate phase of the process and in the first trial.