Court rejects Mizrachi appeal in Oderbrecht laundering case

A ruling by the First Superior Court of Justice did not admit an amparo of constitutional guarantees presented by Aaron Ronny Mizrachi against the decision of a criminal judge to prosecute him along with 35 other people for alleged money laundering in the Odebrecht case .

The court’s ruling, dated March 8 and under the presentation of magistrate Melina Robinson, did not accept the action because she considered that the appeal presented by Mizrachi’s defense does not support the guarantees that Mizrachi was allegedly violated. .

Robinson’s letter details that although possible violations of the provisions contained in the Constitution are alleged , article 85 of the Penal Code is also cited, so that the Court cannot enter to make a review, since it is not about of a norm of constitutional rank.

Mizrachi is a signatory and final beneficiary of the Caribbean Holding company, which -according to the investigation- was used to transfer large sums of money from bribes from Odebrecht Box 2.

In his investigative statement, Mizrachi, who is the brother-in-law of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), said that the funds were “donations” from Odebrecht to the 2009 political campaign. He gave everything to his brother-in-law’s campaign and he never used the money for his personal expenses.

Also through Caribbean, Odebrecht made contributions to accounts controlled by Jaime Lasso, to support the campaign of former president Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019).

Martinelli and Varela will also be prosecuted for the Odebrecht bribes.