Martinelli former secretary moves to dodge arrest

THE PRIVATE SECRETARY to Ricardo Martinelli when he was president, Chichi Adolfo De Obarrio, has made four habeas corpus presentations to avoid being arrested by the anti-corruption prosecutors who are handling nine investigations for alleged corruption and embezzlement of funds from the National Assistance Program (PAN).

Judicial sources reported that presentations were made Wednesday December 3 to the General Secretariat of the Supreme Court by Edna Ramos, lawyer of the former Martinelli aide.
La Prensa attempted to get details of the appeals, but Ramos did not reply to calls.
On November 26 Ramos temporarily stepped aside as president of the Movement of Attorneys Union (MAG), an organization that demands justice in corruption cases. Raúl Rodríguez Arauzis serving as acting president of MAG.
An anonymous complainant told anti-corruption prosecutors that De Obarrio received bribes from contracts made by the National Assistance Program (PAN)
On November 24 De Obarrio gave a press conference last and denied allegations linking him to corruption in the management of public funds. He called the accusations “infamy”, arguing that they could be motivated by his position and closeness to Martinelli.
Later the same evening he left Panama by private jet.
The corruptions investigators have already accused the former directors of the PAN, Rafael Guardia and Giacomo Tamburelli.
Guardia is being held in the Grand Joya jail I Pacora, and Tamburrelli is facing charges against public administration but did not show for questioning claiming high blood pressure.