Panama urged to deny asylum to ex-El Salvador president

PANAMA, refuge for multiple high ranking justice evaders, has been urged by El Salvador President Mauricio Funes not to grant political asylum to former President Francisco Flores, accused of appropriating $15.3 million of donations from Taiwan.

"According to the media, former President Flores is in Panama and will ask for political asylum," Funes said. "I would expect that President (Ricardo) Martinelli would think (it) through because he is not a persecuted politician…There is a criminal prosecution for crimes he committed while president of the Republic," reports La Prensa.

Flores is reportedly in Panama under the protection of the former President Mireya Moscoso, a close ally of Martinelli.
Funes said, without giving specifics, that in Panama "there is a history of giving political asylum" whose beneficiaries "have been former officials of governments and former presidents that have been considered political refugees when, in fact, they have been the chased for ordinary crimes such as acts of corruption."
On April 30, prosecutors asked for an arrest warrant for Flores, accused of the embezzlement and illicit enrichment of at least $15.3 million.
The court, which has not issued the warrant, had summoned Flores Friday to inform him of the legal process against him, but he did not appear. His lawyers were present at the hearing.