New “inner circle” in El Renacer prison
While millions around the world watched North Korean leader Kim Jong Un take center stage with a walkabout in Singapore pt around 10 am Panama time, Panamanians were glued to local TV stations recording the return to face justice of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli.
The “triumphal cross-country caravan” in the style of former military dictator Omar Torrijos was replaced by a fleet of security vehicles and an ambulance escorting him to El Renacer prison, the last home of former strongman General Antonio Noriega, and with several cells occupied by members of his former administration giving new meaning to the Martinelli Inner Circle
As Kim Jong Un, surrounded by dozens of security personnel, was recording diplomatic one-upmanship as he smiled and waved to spectators calling out welcome greetings.
Trump who thrives on public adulation remained in his hotel, perhaps tweeting his latest trade admonitions to his rebellious allies like Canada’s “weak” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the perfidious French president Macron.
Far from center stage Martinelli. fettered and in a prison jump suit and escorted by US marshalls left Miami at 530 a.m EDT on a chartered jet (Not paid for by Panama according to a government spokseman.)
When he arrived he was handed over to units of the National Police, and after medical evaluation “by qualified professionals”, listened to the reading of Articles 22 and 25 of the l Constitution before being transferred ta a border security helicopter which whisked him off to his waiting convoy and his ride to the El Renacer prison where the only waiting faces were media reps and prison guards.
His shrunken band of CD Part faithful, oblivious to pirating of state resources by past and present leaders were gathered at the steps of the Supreme Court; which will be an early stopping point for their erstwhile supreme leader while other wannabees battle it out to fill the shoes of the man who claimed to walk in the shoes of the people.
After the fleet had passed through the prison gates, Sidney Sitton, a Martinelli attorney, held court with the media, but was denied entry to the prison where says a government statement :
he will remain under the custody of the General Directorate of the Penitentiary System (Mingob), at the disposal of the competent authorities, as established by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Panama.”
Now begins what will inevitably be a long drawn out series of legal battles that will enrich lawyers, use up the time of the Supreme Court, already woefully behind, and leaving citizens pondering which if any of his alleged embezzlement crimes will earn him jail time when his initial wiretapping case is over.
