The continuing story of Ricardo Martinelli, his family and trials

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Separate entrance for victims on final day of Martinelli trial

Posted 08/11/2021

Today, Monday, November 8, 2021, at 2:00 pm the closing arguments in the illegal wiretapping trial of former president Ricardo l Martinelli will begin in Plaza Ágora.

The prosecution and the defense will each have one hour.

The Office of the Prosecutor Against Organized Crime will be the first to present final arguments before  judges Iveth Francois Vega (President), Jennifer Cristine Saavedra Naranjo

(Rapporteur) and Marysol Osorio Leyton (Third Judge), then it is the turn of the lawyers of the plaintiffs Balbina Herrera and Mitchell Doens and finally, the defense of Martinelli accused of the presumed commission of the crimes of interception of telecommunications, monitoring, persecution, and surveillance without judicial authorization.

The victims will go to the court once the final arguments are concluded, for this the court has arranged a space of 15 minutes to be heard by the judges. The lawyer Carlos Herrera Delegado indicated that six of the victims have confirmed their participation.

Follow the recorded incidents of insults and attacks on some victims, the court ordered a special entrance for them.

Once the allegations phase and the intervention of the victims are concluded, the court enters a recess to deliberate and give its sentence of guilty or not guilty.

Among the victims who will attend to be heard are the r Balbina Herrera, Francisco SánchezCárdenas and the former deputy José Luis 'Popi' Varela.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/separate-entrance-for-victims-on-final-day-of-martinelli-trial

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Martinelli trial verdict will be announced Tuesday at 7 pm

Posted 09/11/2021

After eight hours of closing arguments and declarations by victims in the wiretapping trial, of former Panama President, Ricardo Martinelli on Monday the judges announced that the ruling will be announced at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 9, at the Accusatory Criminal System headquarters. Plaza Ágora.

The judges that make up the Trial Court entered into deliberation after the final arguments.

The Trial Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama is made up of the judges: Iveth Francois Vega (President), Jennifer Cristine Saavedra Naranjo (Rapporteur) and Marysol Osorio Leyton (Third Judge).

On the last day of the oral trial, the prosecution, plaintiffs, and legal defense of Martinelli presented

their final arguments for one hour each. Seven victims participated on Monday when the oral trial ended after 66 days of hearing and which lasted for three months. Each victim had 15 minutes to speak before the Trial Court.

 

The trial began on July 21.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-trial-verdict-will-be-announced-tuesday-at-7-pm

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Acquitted  Martinelli will seek presidency in 2024

Posted 10/11/2021

Former President Ricardo Martinelli) was acquitted on Tuesday, November 9 of the crimes of interception of communications and monitoring, persecution, and surveillance without judicial authorization by a trial court composed of judges Iveth Francois Vega, Jennifer Saavedra Naranjo, and Marysol América Osorio.

The decision was known at 7:35 pm, two years after another trial court made the same decision, on August 8, 2019. That trial was annulled by an appeals court. This time, the court concluded that the Public Ministry did not prove that Martinelli ordered the wiretaps.

Once the new decision was known, the followers of Martinelli, who awaited the development of the audience with costumes and slogans in the vicinity of Plaza Ágora, exploded with joy.

An exalted Martinelli told the press that justice was finally served after seven years. Immediately, he moved with part of his legal team to Channel 21, which he owns, where he announced that he will seek the Presidency in 2024.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/acquitted-martinelli-will-seek-presidency-in-2024

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Crooked and twisted justice

Posted 10/11/2021

Once again,  Panamanian justice disappoints. The new ruling in the wiretapping case, in which the existence of serious violations of the privacy of at least 150 people, including journalists, businessmen, politicians, and many more, was proven, is a complete disgrace. It affronts not only the victims but the justice system and the entire country. It is proven that we have crooked and twisted justice for a while. And that there was evidence of the violations; that compensation was paid to victims and that there are others convicted of the same crime as accomplices. How things are going, our future generations will have nothing left of justice but ashes, because a band of judicial mercenaries has simply burned the Constitution. We are and will continue to be the most pathetic country in terms of justice. But to tell the truth, this failure was not a surprise. The biggest beneficiary of this decision let it be known last week on his social networks, in the trial itself, and in the show he put on outside the court. We may be consoled by the fact that a judicial process is being carried out in another country –for the Odebrecht case– in which at least two people will face a real judicial system and not this disgraceful caricature of judges that we have – LA PRENSA, Nov. 10.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/crooked-and-twisted-justice

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Martinelli acquittal sign of failed state – former judge

Harry Diaz when he served as prosecutor of Martinelli.

Posted 10/11/2021

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.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-acquittal-sign-of-failed-state-former-judge

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“New Business” case involving Martinelli moved to January

Organized Crime Prosecutor Emeldo Márquez

Posted 13/11/2021

The Prosecutor's Office Against Organized Crime suspended this Friday, the preliminary hearing of the New Business case, for alleged money laundering in the purchase of a media outlet now controlled by former president Ricardo Martinelli who is among the accused.

 The hearing would have be held in the Chamber of the Third Settlement Court, set up at the Balboa Theater; however, due to the lack of notification to one of the accused, it was suspended. until January 27, 2022, when the Public Ministry requests the call to trial the 26 people.

Through social networks, the Superior Prosecutor Against Organized Crime, Emeldo Márquez, reported due to an omission of the notification of one of the accused persons, the hearing act could not be continued, therefore it will continue with the alternate date that is for the month of January. Márquez added that they have prepared a strong theory of the case and were prepared to support it and ask for what corresponds in law.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/new-business-case-involving-martinelli-moved-to-january

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Martinelli moves from the frying pan to the fire

Posted 14/11/2021

Former President Ricardo Martinelli, acquitted last week of illegal wiretapping has  moved from the frying pan into the fire as he now faces trial in two other cases and his sons are moving to the US  when sealed files will be opened revealing the name of a high ranking official in  the Martinelli administration linked to the money-laundering charges they face

The Second Court of Justice confirmed the decision of the Third Court for Criminal Proceedings that validates the investigation order of the Special Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime, against for alleged money laundering in the New Business case and in July he will face charges related to Odebrecht.

The decision was published in an edict of November 9, 2021 of the court, in charge of Baloisa Marquínez reports La Prensa.

The lawyer Carlos Carrillo, from Martinelli's team, had presented a controversial incident, alleging the so-called "specialty principle", consigned in the 1904 extradition treaty between Panama and the United States.

Carrillo confirmed that he is also processing a similar appeal, but in the Odebrecht case, where his client was also called for an investigation.

The New Business prosecutor, Emeldo Márquez, maintains that the Public Ministry has a constitutional and legal obligation to prosecute crimes. Márquez also relies on a decision of the Second Superior Court of Justice of November 14, 2017, which declared the case as a complex case due to the plurality of the facts investigated, which has transnational characteristics, since several of the transfers of money were made from the outside.

On this subject, in December 2019 Thomas Hainemann, legal adviser of the United States Department of State, sent a letter to the Public Prosecutor's Office informing that Martinelli was no longer subject to the principle of specialty in matters of extradition, as he had been allowed to travel outside of Panama from September 15, 2019.

Martinelli, extradited from the United States on June 11, 2018, to answer for the wiretapping case, is one of the 26 people for whom the prosecution has requested a trial for the purchase of Editorial Panamá América, SA (Epasa), supposedly with public funds in 2010.

The disability card
Martinelli has not testified. On July 2, 2020, when he had to answer to the prosecutor, he presented a disability.

Roniel Ortiz, from Martinelli’s legal team, said that in this file his client has all the evidence that it is a "banked and legally justified" money.

For the prosecution, however, it has been possible to establish that $43.9 million were transferred, through a complex scheme, for the purchase of the Epasa group and it was possible to recover $9.2 million (20%) "in shares, which were remitted to the National Treasure".

Ortiz said that the fact that an economic group has “delivered” 20% of the shares to the Treasury means that the State should be proportionally responsible for the operating expenses of the publishing group, from electricity to payroll.

On Friday, November 12, the preliminary hearing of the New Business case was expected to begin, but due to lack of proper notification from the defendant Daniel Ochy Diez, it was suspended.

Marquínez arranged to hold the hearing on the alternate date: January 27, 28 and 31, 2022.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-moves-from-the-frying-pan-to-the-fire

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Martinelli acquittal leaves doubts, thirst for answers

Posted 14/11/2021

Despite the fact that throughout the wiretap case the existence of a crime as serious as the violation of intimacy and personal privacy was revealed - and that there were people convicted - the justice system did not achieve the objective of clarifying what happened. For this reason, "society ended up restless, burdened with doubts and thirsty for answers," said Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of (Cciap)  on Sunday referring to the decision to acquit former President Ricardo Martinelli of political espionage.

The decision, announced November 9, also "undermined the little or no confidence that citizens have in the justice administration system and its components, the Public Ministry and the Judicial Branch," the group said.

Once again, questions arose as to whether they have capable, effective, efficient, and endowed servants of the essential character to be able to dispense justice in an impartial manner, it said.

The Cciap emphasized that the case was important because “if there is respect for neighbor, life, laws, and nature, there will be a society free from injustice and, therefore, free from corruption. On the other hand, if these are lacking, we are faced with a country with weaker institutions every day, a country without a future to offer its best men and women ”.

For the organization, more than the ruling itself, what is of great concern is the lack of credibility, trust and respect of the citizens towards the judicial processes, “that almost generalized conviction that the decisions are the result of a transaction, not of a deliberation in law ”.

Faced with this reality, the Cciap insisted that this system is the cornerstone by which the process of change that the country requires should be started.

The judges Iveth Francois Vega, Jennifer Saavedra Naranjo, and Marysol América Osorio, considered, unanimously, that no evidence was presented to prove that Martinelli ordered the espionage that was carried out, between 2012 and 2014, by the  National Security Council  (CSN).  from the 150 buildings in Ancón, The investigation did prove that the interceptions and monitoring of at least 150 businessmen, journalists, union leaders, diplomats, magistrates and politicians opposed to Martinelli were never authorized by the Supreme Court.

For these same facts, there are already two people convicted. They are Alejandro Garuz and Gustavo Pérez, who were directors of the CSN in the Martinelli government. Each was sentenced to 60 months in prison.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-acquittal-leaves-doubts-thirst-for-answers

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“Political persecution” or simple larceny?

Enrique Martinelli Linares en route to the plane that took him to the US to face trial.

Posted 16/11/2021

From a distance, we will witness the development of a historic trial, at least for Panamanians. We must not forget that this was born in 2014, in Brazil, with Operation Lava Jato, in which an important part of this investigation was Odebrecht. Well, 7 years have passed and the trial in Panama will hopefully be in the eighth year, while in New York it begins today as regards Panama. This will give us the opportunity to see where there is the certainty of punishment and where there is not; where justice is respected and where it is not; or where a trial is won, whether in court or on social media. And when the time comes - and if there are convictions - we will all wonder: and now what will be the excuse for leaving so much bribery unpunished. In the Odebrecht case, there are confessed and convicted defendants; there is evidence, not abundant, but very abundant; there are testimonies that reveal how, when, where and who; there are bank accounts with funds whose origin their "owners" cannot explain. Never before has a case been so solidly proven and, even so, after what happened with the punctures case, uncertainty reigns. Undoubtedly, the trial in the United States will clarify whether this case is political persecution or simple larceny.- LA PRENSA, Nov. 16.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/political-persecution-or-simple-larceny

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Country of Happy Endings for Criminals

Posted 03/12/2021

It is a pity that Panama has not explored the possibility of becoming an accuser in the money laundering case against the children of former President Ricardo Martinelli, in New York. Although the funds passed through the US banking system, the truth is that it is money that belongs to the Panamanian people, so, at least, the Government should have been interested, but not even for that it has served. We lost the opportunity in Italy, with the Finmeccanica case, and now in the United States, with the Odebrecht case. The Government has also not reacted to the fact that the US lawyers who represent the interests of Panama in various matters and arbitrations are the same ones who defend this confessed criminal of conspiracy to launder bribes, to the detriment of the State. The government should fire them since you cannot be at the service of the State while simultaneously helping those who rob you. But these "subtleties" are imperceptible to our rulers because deep down they are not very different from these bandits. At the end of his sentence, the confessed will be deported to Panama and we will see him and his family saying that he is a politically persecuted person. And nothing will happen to him in the country of the happy ending for criminals.

It is a pity that Panama has not explored the possibility of becoming an accuser in the money laundering case against the children of former President Ricardo Martinelli, in New York. Although the funds passed through the US banking system, the truth is that it is money that belongs to the Panamanian people, so, at least, the Government should have been interested, but not even for that it has served. We lost the opportunity in Italy, with the Finmeccanica case, and now in the United States, with the Odebrecht case. The Government has also not reacted to the fact that the US lawyers who represent the interests of Panama in various matters and arbitrations are the same ones who defend this confessed criminal of conspiracy to launder bribes, to the detriment of the State. The government should fire them since you cannot be at the service of the State while simultaneously helping those who rob you. But these "subtleties" are imperceptible to our rulers because deep down they are not very different from these bandits. At the end of his sentence, the confessed will be deported to Panama and we will see him and his family saying that he is a politically persecuted person. And nothing will happen to him in the country of the happy ending for criminals. – LA PRENSA, Dec. 3.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/country-of-happy-endings-for-criminals

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Ex-president Varela locks horns with “cowardly” Martinelli

FORMER president Juan Carlos Varela.

Posted 06/12/2021

Former president, Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019)   denounced on Monday, December 6 the false accusations that another ex-president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) has made against him in social networks, local and international media.

According to Varela,  Martinelli has used the decision made during his government administration not to continue the failed radar project to make "unfounded accusations" against him.

Varela said that he will face this "baseless campaign" in whatever field is necessary.

"The accusations and cowardly attitude of former President Martinelli only seek to divert attention from the multiple cases of corruption he faces in Panama and other countries,” said a statement issued on Monday.

In August 2014, Varela announced the suspension of the contract signed in 2010 by the Martinelli government with Selex, a Finmeccanica subsidiary, for the purchase of 19 radars for $125 million. He claimed that the artifacts did not meet technical specifications.

The Public Ministry initiated an investigation on August 11, 2015, based on a report from the Ministry of Public Security that indicated that the radars purchased from Selex did not detect the speedboats used by drug traffickers on the Panamanian coast.

“During my administration, the largest investments ever recorded in equipment were made for the security forces, including the acquisition of a logistics vessel, helicopters, patrol aircraft, interceptor boats, among other investments, in order to reinforce the fight against drug trafficking. , which entailed a record of 344.39 tons of drugs seized ”, Varela pointed out.

He affirmed that in his more than 35 years of public and private life, neither he nor any member of his family has been involved in activities related to drug trafficking.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ex-president-varela-locks-horns-with-cowardly-martinelli

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Video shows Martinelli meeting with husband of trial judge

Posted 15/12/2021

On the morning of December 15th, social networks lit up after a video published by the online source, Foco Panamá, has caused various reactions after showing former president Ricardo Martinelli, meeting with a close relative of one of the judges who acquitted him in the wiretapping case. The video shows former president Ricardo Martinelli with Ricardo Ramírez, husband of Judge Marisol Osorio, one of the three judges who participated in the same case where Martinelli was declared not guilty. "This is a convenient coincidence, given the day, before Ricardo Martinelli announced that he would not call any more witnesses." The photo shows his lawyer Alejandro Pérez, Virgilio Crespo, and the judge's husband at the Union Espanola Club of San Francisco seated together. Foco announced that this video is already in the hands of the authorities to initiate an investigation of the participants in the meeting.

Martinelli was acquitted in a prior case of illegal wiretapping of opposition politicians and citizens during his presidential term, between 2009 and 2014. The "Pinchazos" case involved an alleged state espionage network, which tapped the phones of more than 150 people, including politicians and journalists. Ricardo Martinelli was also accused of embezzling public funds to create the network when he was the Panamanian head of state. The former president had already been declared “not guilty” in the first trial in 2019, but an appeal court annulled the sentence and ordered the trial to be repeated. Martinelli said that there is "not a single piece of evidence" about him in that case.

The meeting shown on the video occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, October 31, at the Unión Española Sports Club, in the San Francisco district. The next day, when the former president's trial resumed, the defense abruptly announced that it was suspending the presentation of evidence. He only presented 13 items of evidence, even though he originally had a list of at least 40. 

In the widely circulated video circulated by Foco Panamá, Martinelli and his lawyer Alejandro Pérez are observed at a table at the Unión Española Sports Club. At the next table was the former representative of Bella Vista, Virgilio Crespo, who at some point even sat at the same table with Martinelli and Pérez.

Martinelli spent just 13 minutes at the venue. When he left, he said goodbye to a man who occupied a table with two seats, but he always remained alone, chatting on his cell phone. Foco Panama identified that man as the husband of Judge Osorio and said that Ricardo Ramírez Bustos is a close friend of Virgilio Crespo, although they are not seen together in the video. Two days after the meeting there, Martinelli wrote that his luck had changed. "Never give up, not long ago I was in a very difficult place and although I knew that I was going to get out of all this persecution, I never imagined that I would be able to unmask my enemies so publicly" (sic), he wrote on November 2nd in his Twitter account. Martinelli's trial resumed on November 8, with the concluding phases, and the following day, Judge Osorio, Judge Iveth Francois Vega, and Judge Jennifer Saavedra Naranjo acquitted him.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/video-shows-martinelli-meeting-with-husband-of-trial-judge

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Spanish court summons Martinelli to explain his role in bribery scandal

THE UNFINISHED Hospital City which satraps wanted to name after Martinelli

Posted 16/12/2021

The National Court of Spain has summoned former president Ricardo Martinelli to give an investigatory statement for his possible participation in a corruption scheme related to the Spanish company FCC.

The diligence would be carried out by videoconference, according to Spanish international services.

The cause they are investigating is the alleged payment of $82.7 million FCC, in exchange for contracts in Panama.

The ex-president's appearance will be due to the complaint filed by the Baltasar Garzón International Foundation (Fibgar), which at the end of last year took legal action against Martinelli for alleged money laundering and corruption.

The foregoing occurred on April 6, when the Second Section of the Criminal Chamber of the National Court of Spain, by unanimous decision, under the presentation of magistrate José Ricardo de Prada Solaesa, upheld the appeal filed against the order dated November 17, 2020, and considered it prudent to investigate the former governor, for the crimes of money laundering and corruption in international transactions for works carried out by FCC in Panama.

In a statement, the Fibgar company indicated that, according to “the AntiCorruption Prosecutor's Office, the corruption system that is being investigated in Spain and within the framework of which Martinelli has been charged, consisted of oversizing the supply of steel, billing at double their price, with the aim of allocating the funds to pay bribes to Panamanian officials and politicians, through shell or instrumental companies, led by FCC and Odebrecht executives and an international circuit of bank accounts ".

On January 2, 2020, the Spanish media El Confidencial, reported the first elements that were emerging around investigations for alleged payment of millionaire bribes that involved the FCC company in Panama and other Central American countries.

According to the media report, the works carried out on Vía Brasil by FCC and the participation of the company in the consortium with Odebrecht for the construction of Lines 1 and 2 of the Panama Metro, as well as the construction of the Hospital City, are added to the group of works allegedly rigged through payment of commissions.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/spanish-court-summons-martinelli-to-explain-his-role-in-bribery-scandal

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Martinelli reacts  to video and prosecutor probe with threats

Posted 16/12/2021

The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation following a video made public by the digital medium Foco, in which Ricardo Martinelli would have coincided with the husband of Marysol Osorio, one of the judges who recently acquitted him of political espionage.

The meeting took place of Sunday, October 31, 2021, in the restaurant of the Club Deportivo Unión Española, in San Francisco. The next day, when the trial of the former president was resumed, the defense announced that it was suspending the presentation of evidence.

Alejandro Pérez, who is part of the ex-president's team of lawyers, also appears in the video. At the next table was the former representative of Bella Vista, Virgilio Crespo, who also sat at the table of Martinelli and Pérez. Before leaving the place, Martinelli said goodbye to a man who was occupying a two-seated table, who is seen chatting on his cell phone. Foco identified that man as the husband of Judge Osorio and said that Ricardo Ramírez Bustos is a close friend of Virgilio Crespo.

Hours after the video was made public, and citizens repudiated the fact, reports La Prensa Martinelli issued a warning: he will sue civilly and kidnap the property of those who make a "dirty campaign" against him. He said that the person who greeted when he left that day is Amado Arjona's father.

Alejandra Araúz, president of the Forum of Journalists, said that is becoming too common in Panama that people questioned their actions, when they do not like the news, direct their hatred against journalists and the media that cover events.

“But even more regrettable and worrying is that these legal actions find a niche in the bodies called to administer justice. Ethical and responsible journalism does not carry out “dirty campaigns”, its function is to inform and sometimes even reveal what is hidden ”, he said.

Griselda Melo, president of the National College of Journalists (Conape), said that journalists have the duty to disclose any information that affects society in the development of fundamental democratic bases. She said that Conape will be vigilant against any action that may cloud journalistic work, and reiterated the call "to exercise responsible journalism in favor of society.”

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-reacts-to-video-and-prosecutor-probe-with-threats

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Martinelli dodges Spanish Court bullet

Posted 17/12/2021

Former President Ricardo Martinelli, investigated in Spain for his possible connection to the bribery scheme that involves Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), heeded a summons from the National Court of Spain on Friday to render an investigatory statement reports La Prensa

However, once the videoconference diligence he refused to answer the questionnaire from the prosecution and only answered what his lawyer asked him.

At the request of the magistrate, he stated that he would avail himself of his right not to testify and would only answer questions that his attorney asked him.

In this way, Martinelli refused to answer the questions of the Anticorruption Prosecutor of Spain, in charge of María Teresa Galvez. He also refrained from responding to the questionnaire prepared by the International Baltasar Garzón Foundation.

But the ex-president offered his followers a very different version of events says La Prensa.

“I have declared voluntarily, renouncing all my rights, in a process that I have absolutely nothing to do with. It was invented by a Mr. Garzón, for political reasons that I do not know, ”he said in a video that he published on his Twitter account.

The National Court ordered in April of this year to have Martinelli under investigation, as part of the process that the FCC is following for international corruption.

The judicial investigations seek to discover the payment of bribes to Panamanian officials by FCC executives, in exchange for public works contracts, and the possible laundering of funds in Spain.

It is known that at least one property valued at more than 4 million euros and located in one of the most luxurious neighborhoods of Madrid, was acquired with funds, presumably from accounts in Switzerland and Andorra, fed with illicit funds.FCC received at least half a dozen contracts between 2009 and 2014. According to reports made by two former executives of the construction company, it is known that Martinelli government officials demanded the payment of "commissions" for each of the works that were awarded, equivalent to 10% of the value of the contracts.

Commissions

According to these reports, FCC participated, together with Odebrecht, in the organization of the corrupt plot, in the stage of the illegal award of the works. FCC and Odebrecht were partners in some works, such as Line 1 of the Panama Metro.

The payments, in both cases, were made through a plurality of public limited companies that ended up in bank accounts in Switzerland and Andorra, and in the purchase of assets and businesses around the world.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-dodges-spanish-court-bullet

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Fallout  from Martinelli – Panama not trusted

Posted 17/12/2021

The video of former president Ricardo Martinelli with the alleged husband of one of the judges who formed the  Trial Court that acquitted Martinelli of illegal wiretapping is not evidence but a “clue” that the Public Ministry must investigate lawyer and columnist Rodrigo Noriega told TVN.

What proceeds now, according to the lawyer, is to go to the main sources, that is, Martinelli to verify the reality of the fact. If he denies that the other person is the husband of Judge Marisol Osorio, then summon him to know his version, and later the Public Ministry must use the technology they have to identify people and thus corroborate who it is.

If it is verified that it is not the judge's husband as stated in the video, FOCO would have to compensate or apologize, otherwise, if it is indeed the judge's partner, then there is a chain of events.

“I was concerned by the lukewarm response from the Judicial Branch,  They are required by law to investigate this type of event, verify with the judge if the person is her spouse or not. This administrative investigation has to be done.”

For Noriega, there are means that could prove that there was a patrimonial movement, but the important thing is that there is interest in investigating before the possible evidence can disappear.

Another statement that draws Noriega's attention is the one issued by the US Department of Justice, about what happened in New York, where they thank the prosecutors who participated in the process, the Swiss Public Ministry, and the authorities. of Guatemala and El Salvador, but it missed our Panama, which means that Panama did not cooperate or was not part of the process.

Noriega says that the international community is sending strong messages from countries with robust judicial systems that "Panama is not trusted, " so it is they who have to see these cases, highlighting that in New York, already there are two convictions for money laundering.

Law of gravity
“They laundered the money from an Odebrecht bribe, above all for a relative who was a high-ranking official between 2009-2014, we all know who that relative is. That is not a fact under discussion, it is not a novel, it was not the Parallel Prosecutor's Office, the rival president did not invent it, no one invented it, this is a fact practically like the Law of Gravity", he said

It recognizes that corruption cases neither begin nor end with the Martinelli family, but are part of the country's history, because it is a pending debt of Panamanian democracy, to have a justice system that truly confronts corruption.

The lawyer considers that it is necessary for the Public Ministry to be activated because there are frozen monies in Switzerland and Andorra, as well as assets in Spain.

"Prosecutor Caraballo has been acting for nine months if the government of President Cortizo had wanted to ratify it in the National Assembly it would have done it a long time ago if it has not done so it is because it of animosity from certain deputies towards the persecution of drug trafficking and Prosecutor Caraballo represents that, ”said Noriega.

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https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/fallout-from-martinelli-panama-not-trusted-1

[Moderator_03]

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Waning trust in office of the Attorney General

Posted 17/12/2021

The video that has shaken the country, in which the former president Ricardo Martinelli is seen with some people in a San Francisco premises, and that he affirms that one of them is not the husband of one of the magistrates who acquitted him in the trial of the punctures, reveals what our justice is made of.

The Public Ministry has initiated an investigation of this "chance" encounter, but the truth is that the trust that this institution has accumulated in recent years has waned since Eduardo Ulloa took office. His management and that of the current prosecutor has been to castrate the entity, reducing the prosecution of the crime to a simple and bad caricature, with happy criminals, because once again they have freed them from obstacles to continue in what we all know they are.

The investigation that will be made of that video will end, as is the custom, nothing, that is nothing new. It is humiliating for this country to have an inoperative Public Ministry and Judicial Branch, without any power of deterrence, to the point that foreign judges are the ones who do justice to these people, subject not only by unscrupulous politicians but by their own ignorance and indifference. - LA PRENSA, Dec 17.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/waning-trust-in-office-of-the-attorney-general

[Moderator_03]

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Judges who acquitted Martinelli stay will stay while probe underway

Luis Ramón Fábrega

Posted 21/12/2021

 The judges who acquitted former president  Ricardo Martinelli of political espionage  –Iveth Francois Vega (president), Jennifer Cristine Saavedra Naranjo (rapporteur), and Marysol Osorio Leyton (third judge) - will remain in their positions, “as long as no element arises that we can take it as there is some violation of the law, said. The President of the Supreme Court, Luis Ramón Fábrega, on Monday, December 20.

"The Public Ministry is conducting an investigation and we are very respectful of this stage [...] we are at the orders of the collaborations that they request,".

"We cannot go around taking measures, disrespecting rights or presuming illicit actions when we do not have sufficient evidence because there is judicial independence," he said. "when we like rulings and when we don't like them." "A ruling is neither good nor bad because it satisfies our aspirations but rather that it complies with the law," he added.

Fábrega affirmed that in “all the cases” where they have found irregular actions that do not comply with the law, the respective complaints have been filed with the MP.

He explained that to take administrative measures against an official of the Judicial Branch requires a sworn statement and an accusation, having evidence and elements of judgment.

"When we have some piece of evidence in the future, or evidence that there is irregular action, rest assured that we will go to the MP (...) we will see how the circumstances evolve," he said.

The meeting of the video in question would have occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, October 31, 2021, at the restaurant of the Club Deportivo Unión Española, in San Francisco. The next day, when the ex-president's trial resumed, the defense announced that it was suspending the presentation of evidence.

Hours after the video was made public, and the public repudiated the fact, former President Martinelli issued a warning: he will sue civilly and kidnap the property of those who carry out a "dirty campaign" against him.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/judges-who-acquitted-martinelli-stay-will-stay-while-probe-underway

[Moderator_03]

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When politicians advocate and use violence

Posted 22/12/2021

Deputy Mayín Correa, a fan of former President Ricardo Martinelli, has alluded to physical violence against journalists, arguing that in other countries conflicts with journalists are fixed by shooting, while in Panama, the former president only has the path of the civil courts to fight an "unclean" campaign against him.

 This is the second time that close associates of Martinelli have called for physical violence against the media and journalists, since one of his defense attorneys, Roniel Ortiz, did it months ago. It is an escalation since Martinelli himself has been the protagonist of physical altercations, such as when months ago he attacked a journalist from Foco while trying to interview him, while, during his trial, he tried to beat one of the witnesses, in addition to the verbal violence that he and his lawyers continually use. We would have to wait for this violence against critics, media, and journalists on the part of Martinelli and his sheaf if this subject reaches the Presidency, with all the power that this implies. His absence of tolerance will endanger any citizen - whether a journalist or not - who wants to express his opinion about him and his government. Is that what we want from 2024? - LA PRENSA, Dec. 22.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/when-politicians-advocate-and-use-violence

[Moderator_03]

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The Big Lie, Panama Style

Ricardo Martinelli leaves the office of the public prosecutor after invoking the discredited specialty principle.

Posted 27/12/2021

For the umpteenth time, the United States Department of State confirms that Panama can try former President Ricardo Martinelli for the pending cases in Panama, which is why the alleged and spent argument that he cannot be tried by the principle of specialty is a fallacy, which, however, repeated a thousand times, the unsuspecting are willing to believe.

It is an old communication tactic, used by the former Hitler Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, a demagogue, expert in lying and in managing the popular masses. Everything seems to indicate that it is the same thing that this character is looking for, who incessantly repeats alleged events that are not part of reality, but rather his imagination.

That is why the US authorities –which are the official source for this type of doubt– have clarified, once again, what they have already done in the past, but which, at the insistence of the ex-governor to disclose otherwise, reiterates: that the principle of specialty does not apply to this subject. It is clear that whoever wants to believe him responds to stimuli of faith and fanaticism, since the official response could not be clearer. And this is a fact ... not a German tale. – LA PRENSA, Dec. 27. 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/the-big-lie-panama-style

[Moderator_03]

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Court to name judge in Martinelli acquittal appeal

Martinelli after his second acquittal

Posted 12/01/2022

The judicial office of the Accusatory Penal System (SPA) of the First Judicial District sent to the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, the appeals and the warning of unconstitutionality filed against the decision of the Trial Court to acquit former President Ricardo Martinelli for the case of punctures.

Nicomedes Castillo, the lawyer for Balbina Herrera, one of the victims, said that they are waiting to know which magistrate will be responsible for examining the appeals. In general, the distribution of files in the Court takes place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The Criminal Chamber of the Court is made up of María Eugenia López Arias (president), José Ayú Prado, and Maribel Cornejo. In the past, Judge Maribel Cornejo was the rapporteur for appeals related to the case.

On December 16, Castillo filed a cassation appeal and a warning of unconstitutionality against the ruling of the Trial Court of November 9 that acquitted Martinelli of the crimes of interception of communications and monitoring, persecution, and surveillance without judicial authorization.

The objective
The appeal seeks to annul the last paragraph of article 179 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which establishes that “when a new trial is ordered against the accused who has already been acquitted by the contested judgment, and as a result of this new trial, he is acquitted, said sentence is not subject to any appeal ”.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/court-to-name-judge-in-martinelli-acquittal-appeal

[Moderator_03]

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Martinelli on course to dodge trial

"Incapacitated" Martinelli

Posted 27/01/2022

A group of seven defense attorneys filed appeals for the annulment of the preliminary hearing in the New Business case on Thursday, January 27.

Among them is the one presented by Ronier Ortiz, who represents former president Ricardo Martinelli , who asked that the hearing be suspended on the grounds that his client enjoys electoral criminal jurisdiction as he is president of the Realizing Goals party.

Ortiz presented Judge Baloisa Marquínez with seven bulletins from the Electoral Court, where the existence of the Realizing Goals party is certified, and that its main representative is Martinelli.

 Baloisa Marquínez , the third judge to liquidate criminal cases, denied the defense appeal for annulment to suspend the preliminary hearing in the New Business case as the president of the Realizing Goals party, does not have electoral jurisdiction this Thursday because the internal campaign of his group begins  Friday, January 28.

However, the judge granted the opportunity to Ronier Ortiz, the former president's lawyer, to present a certificate from the Electoral Court stating that Martinelli has that legal armor.

Ortiz replied that he will do the corresponding procedures to be able to present that certification on Friday. 

Subsequently, the judge will analyze the other appeal for annulment presented by the former president's defense. On this occasion, they request the suspension of the preliminary hearing because they reiterated that Martinelli is entitled to the principle of specialty contained in the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and Panama, of 1904.

The judge transferred this resource to the Prosecutor's Office for it to issue an opinion.

The facilities of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) in Amador, were used for the hearing of 25 people investigated for the purchase of Editora Panamá América, SA (Epasa), in the year 2010, presumably with public funds, a case known as New Business.

Replaying  the health card 
Among the defendants is Martinelli, a shareholder of Epasa. However, Ortiz reported that he would not attend, because he is "incapacitated."

When asked what his client has and how long the disability is, Ortiz simply pointed out "until the doctor says it's over."

"But the man has been seen dancing everywhere..." a journalist told Ortiz.

"That question is out of place," said the lawyer.

Ortiz also invoked the principle of specialty contained in the 1904 bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and Panama, although the US State Department has said that it no longer applies to Martinelli since the grounds established in the treaty itself have been met.

Martinelli was extradited by the United States, in June 2018, to answer for the so-called puncture case, on alleged unauthorized interception of communications and monitoring.

Consulted by La Prensa, the State Department has said that "Panama is free to take Mr. Martinelli to trial without obtaining an exception from the United States to the specialty rule."

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-on-course-to-dodge-trial

[Moderator_03]

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“Disabled” ex-president posted partying photos

Posted 28/01/2022

Former president Ricardo Martinelli dodged the first day of hearing into the purchase of Editora Panamá América, SA (2010) with money supposedly from the State, a process known as New Business,  by presenting a disability certificate although social networks carry photos of his attendance at various social functions and he was recently seen striding through the halls of the  National Assembly.

Third Criminal Court Liquidator, in charge de Baloisa Marquínez,  is hearing the case in the building of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino), in Amador, where on Thursday lawyers for those involved filed appeals with the purpose of dismissing the investigation and, consequently, stopping the hearing.

The defense of Ricardo Martinelli, for example, asked Judge Marquínez to suspend the hearing, alleging that the former President of the Republic has electoral criminal jurisdiction because his party, Realizing Goals, is in an internal electoral process.

Roniel Ortiz, former president's lawyer, delivered seven bulletins from the Electoral Court, related to the political tournament.

Judge Marquínez ruled that he did not have electoral jurisdiction, since the internal campaign of that party begins today, Friday, January 28.

The judge also denied two other appeals to the former president. In one it was sustained that he was violating the principle of specialty, consigned in the extradition treaty between Panama and the United States Marquínez said that her office had already resolved two similar appeals: one presented by  Eduardo Camacho and another by Alma Cortés.

The judge argued that there is a ruling by the Second Court of Justice confirming that Martinelli is not covered by the specialty principle.

She clarified that she will continue the process against Martinelli until a higher authority notifies her that she must suspend it.

Another rejected annulment appeal alleged that, when the investigation began, Martinelli had "immunity", as a deputy of the Central American Parliament.

Prosecution case
Prosecutor Emeldo Márquez said that the New Business company was used as a basket to receive funds and finalize the acquisition of Epasa. He said the funds were delivered by companies that received contracts from the State for different infrastructure works. in 2009-2014.

An analysis of deposits made to the New Business account showed that it received economic contributions from a network of transactions that had a common denominator: they all came from contracts given by the State for infrastructure works.

The list of the 25 called to trial has a common factor: most are state contractors in the Martinelli administration and they are linked to other legal cases New Business seems to be the piece of the puzzle that unites the judicial processes.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/disabled-ex-president-posted-partying-photos

[Moderator_03]

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Martinelli is running out of arguments

Posted 28/01/2022

As expected, the star accused of the New Business case did not attend yesterday's hearing, alleging, as always, a medical disability that no one believes him anymore, since he has been in charge of disclosing how he enjoys himself. As soon as he hears the words “trial” or “hearing”, he suddenly falls ill or undergoes surgery. The judicial authorities should – at this point – be less lenient with those who openly mock them and the victims, in this case, the Panamanian State. In addition, to be a subject who says he does not fear justice and who shouts his innocence of the charges against him, he does everything possible so that the hearings where he can prove what he affirms do not take place. Only yesterday he clung once again to a principle of specialty that no longer applies to him. He also continues to cling to electoral privileges, appeals, and other technicalities, to prevent the hearing on the suspicious purchase of an editorial group, presumably with public funds, from taking place. He has also run out of arguments about the manipulation of justice since he has been released from charges twice. So, if justice has been "impartial" with him, what is he afraid of? – LA PRENSA, Jan. 28.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/martinelli-is-running-out-of-arguments

[Moderator_03]

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The Martinelli Soap Opera

Ricardo Martinelli.

Posted 29/01/2022

Although the authorities have had to be more diligent, in order to anticipate the excuses that Ricardo Martinelli usually presents to avoid –as he is accustomed to doing– his judicial processes, the truth is that, in this case, the electoral privileges lend themselves to the evasion Prosecutors and judges should be more proactive in this matter, taking into account the previous conduct of that subject. There have been multiple excuses and this was not going to be the exception. But the election processes in political parties can last all year if every month they call an internal tournament to elect the members of commissions, secretaries, and everything that comes to mind to the owner of the party. It is like playing cat and mouse, because as soon as a new hearing date is established and the master is already calling an election, so the jurisdiction would never end. That is why the political parties –and their most prominent scoundrels– prevent the elimination of electoral jurisdiction because they fear being left unprotected before the law. Perhaps it is a good idea for the court to consider continuing the process with the other defendants and to dedicate special hearings to the star of this soap opera.  – LA PRENSA, Jan. 29.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/the-martinelli-soap-opera