Court accepts lawsuits against presidential pardon

Two claims of unconstitutionality submitted in opposition to a presidential pardon granted to two television journalists. have been admitted by Panama SupremeCourt Judge Victor Benavides.

The lawsuits were filed because groups representing the journalists want the cases dismissed, claiming that the sentence was handed down improperly by the Second Criminal Court.
The judgement was for the journalists to be jailed for two years or they can pay a $6,000 fine and not practice journalism for a year.
The suits, filed by Juan de Dios Hernández and Miguel Antonio Bernal, claims that President Ricardo Martinelli overstepped his authority in issuing the pardons to Sabrina Bacal and Justin González of TVN channel 2.
Critics say the sentence is an attempt by the government to silence the media.