Move to block Mizrachi extradition denied

ANOTHER move to stall justice by lawyers working for those in or close to,   the Ricardo  Martinelli  magic  inner circle,  has been stymied.

The 13th Criminal Court has denied a motion filed by defense attorneys for Mayer Mizrachi to block his extradition to Panama from Colombia.

In a ruling issued March 16, Surrogate Judge Cesar Zerna said that the motion, which sought to dismiss the charges, was not a valid reason to stop the extradition process.

Mizrachi was arrested in Colombia on Dec. 29 by Interpol based on a request by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutor Tania Sterling is investigating Mizrachi for allegedly receiving money from the state without providing the agreed upon service, namely encryption software for security agencies. He had received a $211,850 contract for the service.

In his ruling, the judge upheld the extradition request that was filed by the Foreign Ministry Jan. 6. That request is still awaiting a ruling by Colombian authorities.

Also charged in the case are Eduardo Jaen, Adonay Ortega, Eduardo Briceño and Edgar Rodríguez, who are all former officials with the Government Innovation Authority, which issued the contract.

Mizrachi is the son of Aaron Ronny Mizrachi, a brother-in-law of former President Ricardo Martinelli.

Ronny Mizrachi – whose current whereabouts are unknown  but was last seen leaving Panama on Martinelli’s private jet, – is the legal representative of Caribbean Holding Services, a company that was used to purchase equipment to intercept communications from the Israeli company NSO Group Technologies for $8 million.

Martinelli is facing  charges in the Supreme Court related to spying activities during his time in office.