Another Martinelli judicial cloud delayed
ANOTHER judicial process in which the name of ex-pesident Ricardo Martinelli looms large has been postponed until September because of a lawyers’ srike.
The hearing, in Rome involves Valter Lavítola and the former commercial director of Finmeccanica, Paolo Pozzessere for international corruption in connection with a contract with a contract with Panama. It involves an alleged bribe of $25 million that was destined for Martinelli.
The trial has been delayed by a strike to protest against
criminal justice reforms that were approved by the Italian Senate in midMarch and coincided with the hearing of the Finmeccanica case.
The legal teams of the accused adhered to the protest causing their delay. Neither Lavítola nor Pozzessere appeared at the court.
The next hearing will be Sept. 22.
The case has been delayed a number of times.
Lavitola, the “fixer” between Finmeccanica and the Martinelli administration, was the darling boy of the then ruling party (CD) , before fleeing the country, and eventually returning to Italy where he was jailed for corruption activities.
