Martinelli son decision Justice subverted”

THE DECISION of the Supreme Court to provisionally suspend the investigation of Ricardo Martinelli Linares – a son of ex-President Ricardo Martinelli – in the irregularities surrounding the Buko Millonario televised bingo contract, has predictably  produced  outcries, as the news broke just three days after the controversial re-election of  Martinelli appointed, José  Ayu Prado as president of the Supreme Court.

Accounts Prosecutor Guido Rodríguez described the decision as “a mess”

It was made by Alternate Justice Gabriel Fernández on Nov. 30. He would die less than a week later, complicating the process. In that decision, the judge rejected a request by prosecutors to gain access to 28 bank accounts controlled by Martinelli Linares.

The case should have been handled by Ayú Prado, but he was out of the country at the time.

Rodríguez said that the law allows prosecutors to access banking information when they consider it relevant to an investigation.

“That request made by the prosecutor certainly has a legal basis,” he said. “I hope the court corrects this mess, because if there is nothing to hide, I don’t see why they cannot investigate those accounts.”

Former Comptroller Alvin Weeden called the decision “a shame,” saying the decision was “an obstruction of justice.”

“The justice system should be the same for everyone,” he said. “You can’t have an investigation if you can’t access information.”

Carlos Gasnell, president of the Panama chapter of Transparency International, said that corruption investigations are important, and that this decision is a case of the political class subverting justice.

“There should be an obligation to allow prosecutors to investigate acts of corruption” he said.