OFF THE CUFF: Martinelli faces call to star in Soap Opera

WHILE RICARDO MARTINELL, former president of Panama, is out of the country, using Twitter to reply to the ever increasing linkage of his name to corruption investigations in his home country, he now faces a call to appear in an Italian trial, something he once called a “soap opera.”

Gennaro Fredella, a lawyer for Valter Lavítola, plans to call Martinelli as a witness in a corruption trial that is focused on contracts Lavítola allegedly brokered between Italian consortiums and the Panama government.
Lavitola, who once lived the high life in Panama, traveling around in a government vehicle with a local mistress, while setting up local parties and Mediterranean jaunts for those in the Martinelli inner circle, is accused of orchestrating $25 million in bribes paid by Italian defense contractor Finmeccanica.

Also charged is former Finmeccanica Director Paolo Pozzessere. The defense will begin presenting its case Nov. 24.
Italian law could force the former president to testify, but he could refuse to appear. He left Panama in January and his current whereabouts are unknown, although his spin doctor has said he is writing his meoirs in Miami.
Prosecutors refused to summon Martinelli during their presentation of evidence.
Rome prosecutor Paolo Ielo has submitted new evidence against Lavitola, which consists of links he has to companies in Panama that have been investigated by Brazilian authorities for links to money laundering.
Brazilian authorities are also seeking three people, Alexander Herodoto Campos, Danielle Aline Louzada and Neire Cassia Pepe Gomes, for their alleged links to a scheme to launder kickbacks paid to Martinelli.
Lavitola is accused of creating a network of companies to hide the flow of money from the Italian contractor to the former president, reports La Prensa.