Ex-president sets judicial hounds on opponents
Former president Ricardo Martinelli has turned his attack dogs in the form of a pack of compliant, well rewarded lawyers on a range of people who have crossed his path since he was extradited from the United States to face a criminal trial for alleged illegal wiretapping and other crimes.
The taps have been replaced by multi-million dollar lawsuits and judicial harassment of prosecutors, former magistrates of the Supreme Court a former attorney general, journalists, civil society personnel, and political opponents and La Prensa which has exposed much of the corruption during his mandate.
The hounding has also reached two forensic doctors from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) , for alleged abuse of authority, and breaches of the duties of public servants, among other crimes. This was because they examined him when he was being prosecuted for the wiretapping case, in which he was declared “not guilty” on August 9, 2019. The ruling is under appeal.
The legal action also warns that if found guilty, they must be held civilly liable and pay $1 million for the “damages” they have caused.
The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office investigating the Odebrecht case is awaiting the forensic psychiatric evaluation report carried out on Martinelli on July 21. And the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime, investigating him for the New Business case, awaits results of another Imelcf. Examination.
Imelcf said that the action is “clearly intimidating” and threatens the institution’s independence and objectivity.
Recently, Imelcf personnel carried out physical and psychiatric exams after Martinelli presented medical disabilities to the Public Ministry so as not to testify in the New Business and Odebrecht cases. In the first of these cases, he was charged with alleged money laundering, and is under country arrest and must notify Public Ministry once a month.
The legal action against the two forensic doctors was filed at the Public Ministry by lawyers Jessica Canto and Shirley Castañeda, who are part of Martinelli’s pack of lawyers.
The lawyers demand that the doctors be prosecuted for crimes against life and personal integrity abuse of authority, and violation of the duties of public servants, and against public faith.
In the complaint, they describe that the Imelcf’s expert doctors carried out forensic evaluations of Martinelli during the trial phase of the wiretap case, in which a Trial Court declared him “not guilty” of political espionage and embezzlement of funds. public of which he had been accused by the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Organized Crime. The lawyers request an investigation against the doctors and the officials, and also request a restorative action, for the alleged damages. They demand a million dollars.
On July 21, Martinelli went to the Imelcf for a psychiatric evaluation by order of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, investigating him in the Odebrecht case, , after he presented a psychiatric disability of two months, issued by the psychiatrist Algis Torres, who served as director of Health of San Miguelito, during Martinelli’s mandate. Martinelli also refuses to testify for the New Business case. He clings to the principle of specialty established in the extradition treaty between Panama and the United States. However, in the Public Ministry there is a note from the Foreign Ministry that cites a letter from the United States embassy, in which it is noted that this principle is no longer in force.
Martinelli’s legal team also filed a complaint against former attorney Kenia Porcell, whose property was seized. 9. Porcell stopped the action by posting a bond of $150,000.
He has also sued the anti-corruption prosecutor, Tania Sterling, in the Odebrecht case, in which Martinelli was charged with alleged money laundering.
The judicial attack also reaches the ex-magistrates of the Supreme Court, Harry Díaz, and Jerónimo Mejía, who acted as prosecutor, and judge of guarantees in the wiretap case .
