Martinelli moves to dodge bullets with libel suits

Ex-President Ricardo Martinelli has moved to block the increasing number charges of corruption and violation of privacy by initiating lawsuits for libel.
However, reports La Prensa, experts on the subject say the appeal by the former president should not have a great effect.

“The prosecution should not accept the complaint, because it is unnecessary,” said ex –prosecutor Mercedes Arauz de Grimaldo, who believes that a precedent that would define this situation was established.in 2008
In that year, a ruling by the Second Superior Court of Justice ruled that the prosecution should not initiate criminal proceedings for offenses against honor when the offended are figures with authority and jurisdiction.
Also in 2008, the existing Criminal Code decriminalized libel and slander, so that the Public Ministry, as Arauz de Grimaldo said, should proceed with the completion of their actions.
Deputy and ex-Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez said that whoever is responsible for processing the complaint should consider the fundamentals of president. “You have to see the items that he believes are crimes, which cannot be people getting into the private lives of the public servant,” Gomez said, She noted that the criticism of management should not be considered as slander and/or injury
Martinelli’s complaint was filed against ex comptroller Carlos Vallarino on December29, but became on Thursday, January 23 publicly yesterday. The action was led by the lawyer Roniel Ortiz, a member of a legal team led by Alejandro Perez, legal representative of Ronny Rodriguez, wanted by the Panamanian justice for allegedly intercepting private communications of scores of Panamanians. Carlos Carrillo, Rogelio Cruz and Sidney Sitton complete the defense team
In a press release, Martinelli announced that he will sue for libel to the former prosecutor corruption Lizzett Chevalier, and other officials of the Public Ministry for libel.