Martinelli acquittal sign of failed state – former judge

Former Supreme Court Judge Harry Díaz, who served as prosecutor in the process followed by Ricardo Martinelli for alleged political espionage, when the jurisdiction of the case was held by the Supreme Court he considered that the acquittal of the former president is “one more sign that we are two steps away from a failed state ”.

The former president was acquitted on the night of November 9, because judges Iveth Francois Vega, Jennifer Saavedra, and Marisol Osorio considered that the Public Ministry did not prove that the accused ordered the interception of communications of over 150 politicians, journalists, magistrates, trade unionists, diplomats and businessmen opposed to Martinelli, between 2012 and 2014, using personnel and equipment from the National Security Council (CSN).

Of the 150 “targets” of the CSN, 49 were recognized in the file as victims and six of them even became private plaintiffs (four of whom this year reached extrajudicial financial agreements with the accused). There is evidence in the file that none of these interceptions was authorized by the Supreme Court.

“There are 49 people tapped, who could only have been with sophisticated software that the judges themselves recognized was bought by the Panamanian State, to be used by the Security Council. Who controls the Security Council? Exclusively the President Díaz told La Prensa.

He recalled that Decree Law 9 of 2008, organized by the CSN, was repealed through Law 11 of March 18, 2010, approved by the National Assembly when José Luis Varela (was the deputy president and sanctioned by then-president Martinelli.

“The next day, Martinelli issued an executive decree stating that he was the only boss of the council,” said Díaz, also recalling that the interceptions were carried out in building 150 in Ancón, isolated from the rest of the CSN complex, a property that was only entered by three agents (Ronny Rodríguez, Ismael Pittí, and William Pittí) who were only accountable for their tasks to the then ruler. Ronny Rodríguez and William Pittí are currently fugitives from justice.

“Who else could order the punctures? Who publicly boasted of having a dossier of all? What were the judges up to? That there was a video specifically filming Martinelli, ordering to intercept someone’s privacy? Sound criticism, experience, and common sense should rule over failures, ”said Díaz.

“I also want to mention that Guillermo Márquez publicly pointed out in a video that Martinelli, before becoming president, said: ‘you become president, you steal 500 million and then you use 250 to pay lawyers and magistrates.’ Is there anything else to say? ”He asked.

In the prosecutorial hearing that he prepared, Díaz requested a sentence of 21 years in prison for Martinelli, for the alleged commission of four crimes, including two for embezzlement, which were ultimately excluded from the case.

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