Capo Martinelli lawyers approach UN Human Rights

Ricardo Martinelli’s team of lawyers have approached the United Nations to protest the human rights deprivation of their client accused of violating the rights of over 150 Panamanian citizens with illegal telephone snooping during the last two years of his mandate (2009-14).

Sidney Sitton Martinelli defense lawyer sent a request to the UN Working Group on Human Rights because the deprivation of liberty of Martinelli is “in violation” of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Covenant International Civil and Political Rights.

Sitton claimed that Martinelli’s detention is “arbitrary”, and asks the UN to  “request Panama to take the necessary measures to remedy the situation “that the ex-ruler is going through.

Sitton also asks the Working Group to submit its opinion on the situation to the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

On Monday, June 11, Martinelli was admitted to the state hospital Santo Tomás, in the capital, after suffering a  panic attack hypertensive emergency in a diligence of communication of his  rights before a Judge of Guarantees

On Thursday he was returned to El Renacer chiefly used for white-collar criminals.

Only the Plenary of the Supreme Court can decide on the precautionary measures of Martinelli, as a deputy of Parlacen, which when running for election he described as a “den of thieves.”

Now he wants out of jail although he was willing to stay in a US prison cell without medical concerns for a year to avoid extradition.

The latest ploy again raises the political persecution mantra of a man, who is also accused of massive embezzlement, alongside his two sons and brother and a bunch of his inner circle members, which has led to him being referred to as El Capo by many commentators. But to diehard members of the CD Party, he founded. to further his political ambitions, he is the victim of a plot by president Juan Carlos Varela, a man he two-timed in a pre-election deal in 2009, leading to a coalition deal that lasted for two years.

Some of those railing against the trial of Martinelli are themselves facing potential long jail sentences, but for them, being charged with having their hands deep in the public treasury, and money laundering is persecution, while a bank employee currently serving a six-year sentence. In one of Panama’s hell-hole jails for stealing $5,000. got his just desserts.

The Martinelli public circus will resume on Monday, July 18, in the Supreme Court but the side shows will continue,

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