Bail is Denied for the Release of Former President Ricardo Martinelli

The second liquidating judge of criminal cases, Baloísa Marquínez, flatly rejected a request for bail presented in favor of former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has chosen asylum in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama and who maintains an arrest warrant for a 128-month prison sentence for the crime of money laundering with the company New Business for the acquisition of Editora Panamá América (EPASA).  Through edict No. 09 posted at the courthouse last Thursday, the decision made by Judge Marquínez is being made available for publication.  In writ No. 33 it is detailed that Judge Marquínez’s decision is based on articles 2155 and 2421 of the  Judicial Code, which detail that “the court, after the sentence is enforceable, will send an authenticated copy to the Commissioner of Correction for the execution of the sentence, in the part that does not correspond to the same court.  A certification, if the sentence has been executed, which the court will require from the Commissioner of Correction, will be added to the file.  “On March 5, Judge Marquínez ordered the arrest of Martinelli, Valentín Martínez Vásquez, Daniel Ochy, Janeth Vásquez and Iván Arrocha, against whom she issued a conviction for the crime of money laundering.  Martinelli faces a sentence of 128 months in prison and a fine of $19.2 million, while Ochy was sentenced to 96 months, Martínez Vásquez was sentenced to 80 months, Arrocha was sentenced to 70 months, and Janeth Vásquez was sentenced to 60 months.  Meanwhile, the acquittals given to another 10 investigated are in the appeal phase by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime.  After the sentence became final, the Electoral Tribunal, after being notified by the court, disqualified Martinelli from participating in the electoral elections on May 5.