Guatemala court approves extradition to US of Martinelli’s son

The Fifth Court of Criminal Sentencing, Drug Trafficking, and Crimes against the Environment of Guatemala authorized the extradition of Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, to the United States for the alleged commission of various crimes related to money laundering.

The information was communicated on Tuesday, May 25, by the Public Ministry (MP) of Guatemala.

No date was given for the delivery to the United States.

The Fifth Court also ordered the seizure of the assets that the accused was carrying when he was arrested. When he was captured, he was carrying cell phones, cash and passports.

The MP indicates that Martinelli Linares is wanted on four counts, ranging from conspiracy to launder money, money laundering, and instigation.

Martinelli Linares, 38, was captured on July 6, 2020, at the La Aurora airport in the Guatemalan capital, when he was about to board a private flight to Panama, with his brother Ricardo Alberto, 40.also required by the United States. That plane was taken into custody last March, also at the request of the US authorities.

Ricardo Alberto’s extradition is settled in another court, the Third Criminal Sentencing, Drug Trafficking, and Crimes Against the Environment, which has not yet made a ruling on the matter.

Since their capture, the two sons of former President Ricardo Martinelli have remained in the Mariscal Zavala military prison, while presenting various appeals against their detention, which they consider illegal since -according to them- it violates a presumed immunity that they would have as alternate deputies of Parliament. Centroamericano (Parlacen) , based in Guatemala. The Parlacen has recognized that, although elected in May 2019, the Martinelli Linares were never sworn in or took formal possession of their positions.

The indictment against the Martinelli Linares brothers was filed in the Eastern District Court of New York.

Just for the crime of conspiracy to launder money, the penalty would be up to 20 years in prison. For the crime of hiding information, the maximum penalty is also 20 years in prison. If they are finally convicted, the assets linked to the charges for which they are accused could be confiscated.