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Message added by Moderator_02,

Articles about the sons of Martinelli will now be found here https://chiriqui.life/topic/17753-martinelli-sons-for-trial-in-usa/

The "New Business" trial involving Martinelli & others can be found here https://chiriqui.life/topic/19951-new-business-trial/

Also see https://chiriqui.life/topic/7880-“blue-apple”-corruption-scandal for more postings involving the Martinelli family, especially the two Martinelli sons.

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3 hours ago, Moderator_02 said:

* the above article is somewhat out of sequence.

The matter has been dealt with. Bail was denied again on appeal.

The three Judges who WILLhear the case have been named. https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/judges-martinellis-case-are-defined-9241

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OFF THE CUFF: ICE looks away. Martinelli son plays cool,

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Posted 19/02/2019
 
With an Interpol red alert hanging over his head while he is out on a million dollar bail, Alberto Rica Martinelli Linares the eldest son of former president Ricardo Martinelli has flitted f the scene in Miami, Florida, he was provisionally apprehended, in last November, for being illegally in the USA. 

He appears in several photographs that public relations agent Lorenzo Martone based in New York, published o his Instagram account.  In some of the photographs, Martinelli, Martone and other friends appear in the Waterbar restaurant in San Francisco, California. 

The name of Ricardo Martinelli Linares appears as a resident in a luxury apartment complex in Fremont Street, San Francisco, according to a report commissioned by Transparency International, based on data available in US public records reports La Prensa

The US Department of Homeland Security , through its  Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE),  known for its swift action in deporting illegal residents from less well-heeled backgrounds reported on November 20 that although Rica and his brother  Luis Enrique entered the country legally, "their visas they were revoked in 2017 and since then they have been illegally in the United States. " That day, the two Martinelli Linares brothers were arrested and sent to the Krome Detention Center in Miami.A judge granted them each $1 million bail and on December 7, they left their cells in  Krome for the family luxury mansion in Coral Gables, Miami.

Both were due for a hearing in the Miami Immigration Court on January 22, but it was suspended due to the US government shutdown. 

Panama’s Foreign Ministry formally requested their extradition - through a red alert from Interpol - to face multiple appear in different judicial processes including money laundering. Their father remains in El Renacer prison, awaiting trial for alleged illegal wiretapping. He and his lawyers have made five failed attempts at getting bail.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/off-the-cuff-ice-looks-away-martinelli-son-plays-cool

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Court rejects another Martinelli appeal

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Posted 23/02/2019
 
Yet another appeal  in the seemingly unending ploys by  the high-end legal team of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli has been rejected

The Superior Court of Appeals denied the remission to the full Supreme Court of Justice of a warning of unconstitutionality, against Article 50 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which regulates the impediments and challenges to judges and magistrates.

The three judges that make up the trial court in the case against Martinelli for the alleged commission of crimes against the inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy, and embezzlement, were unanimous in their decision.: The complainant victims recused judges Roberto Pereira and Raúl Vergara, and the defense did the same with Arlene Caballero.

The court considered that Article 50 was already used by the defense with Judge  Jerónimo Mejía - judge of guarantees in the process and that such a request was denied on June 29, 2018. "Therefore, Article 50 has been the subject of the application in this criminal proceeding," says a Judicial Body press release.

Martinelli reamains in El Renacer Prison awaiting trial in early March.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/court-rejects-another-martinelli-appeal-1

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Martinelli criminal complaint “disastrous precedent“

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Posted 26/02/2019
 
A criminal complaint by ex-president Ricardo Martinelli against a Panama newspaper has been denounced by lawyers and journalist associations as a direct attack on freedom of expression creating a disastrous precedent.

Alma Cortés, lawyer and Minister of Labor in the previous administration has filed a criminal complaint on behalf of Ricardo Martinelli against editors and directors of El Siglo over an article published in October last year.

The opinion piece was written by the former Secretary General of the Central General Autonomous Workers of Panama (CGTP), Mariano Mena, and published on October 3, 2018, titled “The tantrums of the crazy one (El Loco).” Mena is also named in the complaint

In the notification document, dated February 21, from the Metropolitan Prosecutor's Office, the president of the GESE group, Eduardo Quirós, and El Siglo editors: José Somarriba, Abdiel Quintero, Domayko Olivares, Millie Ramos, and Yasilka Córdoba are informed of their duty to appear in accordance with articles 152 and 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The professor and lawyer, Miguel Antonio Bernal, said that these are the tricks that Mr. Martinelli has always used: "He who is a devoted enemy of freedom of expression and the right to information. It is a disgrace for this country that a former president has such an undemocratic behavior, he does this to maintain prominence.”

Bernal added that this quarrel has neither head  nor tailhead, because “'the one who wrote was Mariano Mena, he must denounce it is him, not the rest'.

Criminal lawyer, Carlos Herrera Morán, said that "it is wrong to sue a media and its directors, when the person, allegedly a victim, feels offended by an opinion article. In any case, they should sue the one who wrote. '

Morán who is also a lawyer for the victims in the illegal  wiretapping case said that Martinelli is' developing a strategy of intimidation towards journalists and the media and this has been increasing, as the oral trial against him  approaches

He warned that Mena is among the 150 Panamanians documented as alleged victims of wiretapping by Martinelli.

Mena  said “this demand should not have been accepted by the MP, The publication date was October 3 and they had up to 60 days, according to the Procedural Code to present their complaint, and the notification was filed February 21,

Mena said added that although he is among the defendants, he has not been notified by the MP, and said that “'nowhere in my article do I mention the name of that man”  

Filemón Medina, of the Union of Journalists, pointed out that the complaint would not have a foothold if Mr. Martinelli is not mentioned, much less the action for the co-responsibility of the media. No person expressing his opinion should be subject to legal action, because that weakens the exercise of free expression, that is a right. Hopefully, those who administer justice understand this principle.”

Blanca Gómez, president of the National Association of Journalists (CONAPE), stressed that 'all the media place in their credit sections that opinion articles are the responsibility of the authors. This is because the medium provides that space for free opinion and expression, which has nothing to do with the opinion of the medium that is presented through its editorials, and the work of its staff journalists. It is absurd to pretend that the editors and the president of the media are sanctioned for an opinion article which the sole responsibility is its author. This action aims to set a disastrous precedent, given that the common citizen's right to have a space to express their position on topics of daily occurrence is curtailed.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-criminal-complaint-disastrous-precedent-2

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Panama awaits US reply to Martinelli duo extradition calls

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The fugitive sons of Ricardo Martinelli

Posted 27/02/2019
 
PANAMA’S Public Ministry has made two requests to US  authorities for the extradition of the two sons of former president Ricardo Martinelli  who are each facing two investigations for alleged money laundering.

The Special Anticorruption Prosecutor, Zuleyka Moore, sent to the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs elements that had not been included in the original extradition request, related to the investigation related to bribes paid by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.

The additional information comes from the approval hearing of the collaboration agreements agreed by the Public Prosecutor's Office with Odebrecht executives André Rabello, Olivio Rodrigues Junior and Luiz Eduardo Da Rocha Soares, carried out by the Twelfth Criminal Court on November 9, 2017.

The information has been transcribed and translated and should be attached as a supplement to the extradition request, made to the United States on May 14, 2018.

Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares are awaiting a hearing before the immigration authorities of the United States.

 Panama has issued two red alerts through Interpol so that they can be detained and extradited and face trial.

The other extraction process is in the hands of the Sixth Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office relating to the alleged payment of bribes by State contractors to government officials in exchange for contracts, known as the Blue Apple case.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has again also requested Interpol to issue red alerts for the capture and extradition of the brothers.

The sixth anti-corruption prosecutor, Aurelio Vásquez, is also awaiting s a response from the United States.

Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares is also facing embezzlement charges  dating back to 2016 over after supposed irregularities in the contract of televised bingo Buko Millonario.

The brothers were arrested on November 20, 2018 by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) of the US Department of Homeland Security at their residence in Coral Gables, Miami.

ICE reported that the Martinelli Linares brothers entered the country legally, although "their visas were revoked in 2017 and since then they have been illegally in the United States."

In an audience held on December 4 last year of the same year, the were granted bail bonds of one million dollars each.

The last hearing convened was for January 22 at the Immigration Court in Miami, but was suspended due to the partial closure of the United States government.

Recently, the publication of photos by Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares at the Waterbar restaurant in San Francisco, United States, caused a stir on social networks.

Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares has a luxury apartment in Fremont Street, San Francisco, according to a report by Transparency International, based on data available from US public records

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-awaits-us-reply-to-martinelli-duo-extradition-calls

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Court will decide if it admits Martinelli's complaints for slander

Wed, 02/27/2019 - 16:35

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A Court of Guarantees of Panama will decide on Thursday the admission or not of two lawsuits filed against three people by former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), detained in a trial by alleged illegal eavesdropping, reported on Wednesday the Judicial Branch (JB).

One complaint is against two citizens for the offense against the honor of the natural person (slander and insult), and the other is against a third citizen for the offense against public administration in the form of omission in the exercise of their functions, indicated the judicial information without further details.

The lawyer Alejandro Pérez, who requested the hearing on behalf of the former president, said on Wednesday to Acan-Efe that one of the defendants is the former director of International Legal Affairs and Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Farah Diva Urrutia, by omission in the exercise of its functions.

He explained that the complaint against Urrutia is for the conditions under which Martinelli was extradited from the United States and received in Panama in June 2018.

Urrutia currently holds the position of Secretary of Multidimensional Security in the Organization of American States (OAS).

Martinelli also filed a complaint in August 2018 against the chancellor and vice president of Panama, Isabel De Saint Maló, from whom he seeks a compensation of 20 million dollars for allegedly having wrongly processed his extradition from the US.

Pérez told to Acan-Efe that the other lawsuit is against lawyer Mariela Ledezma and civil society activist Anette Planells for slander and libel for "accusations of (the alleged) commission of crimes that have not been proven" to the former president.

Already the Panamanian Prosecutor's Office rejected last November Martinelli's lawsuit against Planells and Ledezma arguing that it did not comply with the "formal requirements" established by law, and that "none of the arguments they used found support in the legislation".

Martinelli, held in a minimum security prison located in the outskirts of Panama, also filed a complaint for libel and slander against the president of the publishing group El Siglo and La Estrella (Gese), Eduardo Quirós, and five editors, for an article of opinion published in October 2018 entitled "The madman's tantrums" and signed by Mariano Mena.

The former president has also filed a criminal complaint against the politician Mitchell Doens, one of the victims of alleged illegal eavesdropping and complainant in the process, from whom Martinelli requires a reimbursement of 30 million dollars.

The former first lady Marta Linares de Martinelli presented a demand in her request that "order the media (...) especially the newspaper La Prensa, stop and refrain from disclosing or publishing facts and situations of private and family nature, and the first and last names or surnames in general of the family group, as part of a media campaign against the members of this Panamanian family".

"The demand is for family protection and the family image, for publishing journalistic notes in which the link of their children is mentioned with the Odebrecht case, which investigates the Special Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office", according to the newspaper La Prensa.

For the next March 12 the oral trial is scheduled to Martinelli for the case of illegal eavesdropping and embezzlement, which faces a penalty of 21 years.

 

https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/court-will-decide-if-it-admits-martinellis-complaints-slander-9365

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Judge rejects Martinelli private hearing ploy

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Posted 28/02/2019
 
An attempt by Ricardo Martinelli, to suspend the transmission of the hearing of rights violations taking place on Thursday. February 28 was rejected by Judge Francisco Carpintero.

The hearing is in the case against the former president for the alleged commission of crimes against the inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy, and two types of embezzlement.

Martinelli entered the courtroom shortly before 9:00 am, handcuffed and guarded. This time he entered in silence; there were no harangues or the usual shouting if statements to journalists report La Prensa.

Shortly after, Martinelli requested that the hearing be "private" and without the presence of the media.

Defense lawyer Carlos Carrillo requested the immediate suspension of the live transmission of the hearing as medical aspects of his client will be ventilated, which may affect "his physical integrity".

Prosecutor  Ricaurte González and David Cuevas, attorney for the plaintiff-victim  Rosendo Rivera, defended the publicity of the process. 

"Since arriving in Panama, all [Martinelli's] trials have been public and oral ... Consequently, I do not see the need to prevent the media from broadcasting this act," said Cuevas. He recalled that previously, "the accused has said he would like to keep the publicity."

Carlos Herrera Delegado, lawyer of plaintiff victim  Mauro Zúñiga, said that Martinelli has not supported "in what way" the transmission of the event affects him.

 Defense lawyer Jéssica Canto said the medical condition of her client and said he mentioned that she has not been subjected to legal medical evaluations since on June 12 and 13, 2018.

She indicated that Martinelli suffers from ischemic heart disease, anxiety, high blood pressure, and prostate problems.

She read a certificates ion stating that Martinelli had a heart problems attack and brain complications that can cause sudden deathon from cardiologist Bey Lombana, which states that the patient has several diseases that require control. 

Canto referred to the incidents that took place on December 20, when Martinelli's defense tried to move him to The National Hos[ital  for five days  to have several exams [Subsequenly he refused examinations at Santo Tomas Hospital and was returned to El Renacer Prison.]

The lawyer asked the judge to order a forensic medical evaluation of his client, to see if he could "resist" the oral trial that begins on March 12. The day before, Martinelli turns 67 years old. The request was turned down but the judge ordered the medical reports sent to the forensic team for evaluation. 

"The court has not clearly identified the violation of Mr. Martinelli's fundamental rights," said judge Judge Carpintero.
 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/judge-rejects-martinelli-private-hearing-ploy-1

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Ailing Martinelli still plans mayoralty bid

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Martinelli and his legal team

Posted 28/02/2019
 
The judge of guarantees, Francisco Carpintero, has ordered the director of the National Security Service, Rolando Lopez, to guarantee officials of the body to be notified for the oral trial of former President Ricardo Martinelli.

The defense of the former president claimed at a Thursday hearing denounced that Lopez has hindered the notification to officials of the Service who were admitted as defense witnesses in the oral trial against Martinelli for the illegal wiretapping scheduled for Tuesday, March 12.

Judge Carpintero, also denied new medical evaluations of the former president during a  hearing in the Second Superior Court on Thursday, February 28 but he accepted an the evaluation  by the Legal Medicine Institute of the Public Prosecutor's Office of to will evaluate two medical reports, one on January 26 and the other on February 1, 2019, to determine Martinelli’s health conditions He has been held n El Renacer jail since June 12 last year and plans to run for election for mayor of Panama in spite of his ailments..

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ailing-martinelli-still-plans-mayoralty-bid

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Fugitive Martinell sons Miami hearing date

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Posted 28/02/2019
 
The immigration hearing of the fugitive brothers Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, sons of former president Ricardo Martinelli, has been rescheduled for March 18  in Miami. It comes only days after the start in Panama of the wiretapping trial of their father.

The Martinelli Linares brothers have awaited an immigration process since their arrest on November 20, in Coral Gables, Miami.,

They were arrested by agents of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service.(ICE). They had entered the United States legally, but in 2017 their visas were revoked and they now have an illegal status.

On December 4, the brothers obtained bail of $1 million apiece

The hearing before the Immigration Court had originally been scheduled for January 22 but was suspended due to the partial shutdown of US government offices.

Interpol Red alerts have been issued Interpol for the arrest of the brothers, the who are wanted by Panama anti-corruption prosecutors to face criminal proceedings for money laundering offenses, in the Odebrecht and Blue Apple cases.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/fugitive-martinell-sons-miami-hearing-date

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Appeal against Martinelli judge denied

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Ricardo Martinelli

Posted 01/03/2019
 
Panama’s Superior Court of Appeals did not admit the challenges presented by the plaintiffs against Ricardo Martinelli appointee Judge Roberto Tejeira, who will preside over the court handling the oral trial of the former President

According to the ruling, on   Friday, March 1judges Roberto Tejeira, Raul Vergara and Arlene Caballero must continue with the criminal case.

The same court did not approve the recusal that was presented by the lawyer Carlos Carrillo, member of the defense team of Ricardo Martinelli, against Judge Arlene Caballero.

The presiding judge will be Roberto Tejeira, who in 2009 was appointed as advisor in the Ministry of Government and Justice by  Martinelli. Later, he was secretary general and deputy governor of Panama, during the management of Mayín Correa (2009-2014). A longtime political supporter of Martinelli He was also a legal advisor to the Mayor's Office of Panama when Correa was mayor of Panama (1991-1999)

Arlene Caballero will be the judge rapporteur. Previously, she was the coordinator of the Office of Implementation of the Accusatory Penal System of the Judicial Organ (OISPA) and later was secretary of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) during the presidency of José Ayú Prado who he appointed Attorney General  and later Magistrate of the Supreme Court by Martinelli. Ayú Prado declared himself disabled in the illegal wiretapping case

The third judge will be Raúl Vergara, who was the Eighth Criminal Circuit Judge of Panama.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/appeal-against-martinelli-judge-denied

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No TV for Martinelli eavesdropping trial

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Posted 08/03/2019
 
Panama’s most anticipated criminal trial begins on Tuesday,  March 12 but will not be televised.

 The oral trial of former president Ricardo Martinelli, accused of illegally wiretapping at least 150 of his fellow countrymen and women during his last two years in office will begin at 9 a.m.  

Among his  alleged victims were political opponents, journalists, judges, and businessmen, Prosecutors have called for a 21-year prison term, but local observers and plaintiffs fear that the former authoritarian ruler, if found guilty, could end up with a slap on the wrist shorter term enabling the billionaire businessman to pay his way out of serving time.

He has been in detention in The US and Panama since June 2017 when he was arrested at his $8 million Coral Gables. Miami, waterside mansion. He is currently housed in El Renacer Prison.

 A meeting of court officials was held on Friday, March 8 to coordinate the logistics, management, security, and distribution of positions in the trial hearing

It will be held in room 1 of the Plaza Ágora SPA, from starting at 9:00 a.m.

Martinelli is accused of the alleged inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy and embezzlement and will be defended by a team of Panama’s most expensive lawyers and political cohorts.

The hearing room has space capacity for 78 people, apart from members of the court.

On Friday passes for the defense spaces, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the staff of the judicial office and for the media were distributed.

The trial court is composed of judges Roberto Tejeira, as president; Arlene Caballero, as rapporteur, and third judge Raúl Vergara.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/no-tv-for-martinelli-eavesdropping-trial

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Martinelli eve of trial evaluation

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Posted 11/03/2019
 
On the eve of his trial for illegal interception of private messengers and two types of embezzlement, former President  Ricardo Martinelli was taken from the El Renacer prison was on Monday to the headquarters of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) for evaluation.  

Since his extradition from the USA on June 11 last year, Martinelli, 67,  and his lawyers have unsuccessfully sought to persuade a series of judicial hearings that his health is in such a precarious state that he should be moved from the prison.

Meanwhile, the man who has produced medical reports claiming he could drop dead at any moment and suffers from stress and hypertension has been planning to run a strenuous election campaign  to start a political comeback as mayor of Panama, with the announced intention of running for president  in 2024

On February 28, the judge of guarantees Francisco Carpintero gave the green light for Imelcf staff to review two reports of ex-Governor Martinelli that were prepared by private doctors Bey Lombana and Gaspar Arenas. 

On the transfer of Martinelli to the Imelcf, Jessica Canto, Martinelli's lawyer, asked on Monday for an " objective" evaluation and a "first line" job.  

Canto said that what is sought is to know the medical-legal condition of the defendant and then be able to opt for a change of injunction.  

"Everyone deprived of liberty [has the right to a change of measure] if he has any condition," Canto said

The  Martinelli trial is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12. 

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-eve-of-trial-evaluation

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Psychiatric pass delays “El Loco” Martinelli trial

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Posted 11/03/2019
 
Only hours before the anticipated wiretapping trial of former president Ricardo Martinelli ’s defense lawyer  Carlos Carrillo presented a psychiatric incapacity certificate.

The certificate was  signed St. Thomas Hospital, psychiatrist Frank Guelfi runs from March  9 to 31

The information was confirmed by prosecutor Ricaurte González. The trial was due to start at 9 a.m., on Tuesday, March 12.

Martinelli remains has been detained in El Renacer prison since June last year and before that spent a year in a Miami detention center. During his election campaign, Martinelli supporters wore shirts emblazoned with El Loco (The crazy one) in response to reports that he was bipolar.

Since his extradition to Panama Martinelli's defense team has made numerous attempts to get his detention order changed on health grounds, ranging from heart problems to hypertension. At one time he refuded examinations at Santo Tomas Hospital and was returned to the prison. While in Miami he claimed to have colon cancer.
 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/psychiatric-pass-delays-el-loco-martinelli-trial

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17 minutes ago, Moderator_02 said:

Only hours before the anticipated wiretapping trial of former president Ricardo Martinelli ’s defense lawyer  Carlos Carrillo presented a psychiatric incapacity certificate.

This is probably the most legitimate appeal to delay his fate that he's made to date.

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Martinelli urged to face up to trial

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ESCORTS take RM for mental check up

Posted 14/03/2019
 
While Former president Ricardo Martinelli was heading for court-ordered psychiatric evaluation after defense lawyers tried to delay his trial with a  last-minute medical certificate  Panama’s  Attorney General of Administration, Rigoberto González urged him, to face justice like a man and not shirk the trial for illegal snooping and embezzlement.

The prosecutor's reaction comes after the defense presented on Tuesday, during the trial, a mental health disability certificate for March 9 to 31,  issued by private psychiatrist Frank Guelfi after a visit to El Renacer prisons said. He reported that Martinelli experienced anxiety, cried and thinks about suicide.

If Martinelli 67,  is found guilty he could face 21 years in jail  

The trial court suspended the hearing and ordered Martinelli to be referred to a mental health doctor from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences to corroborate or object to the opinion of the psychiatrist Guelfi.

When the court has the result of this forensic evaluation, it will be decided when the trial will be resumed.

"Mr. Martinelli was president of the country, and as an ex-president, he must send the message that he is in the ability to face the system of administration of justice, without being in this dilatory situation, even when he has the right to defend himself," the prosecutor said.

González recalled that when in 2009 the  Supreme Court opened a trial, along with the then Attorney General Ana Matilde Gómez, for alleged overreaching of functions, she confronted the case with nobility.

Gonzalez said n that sense, he stated that the message sent to citizens with these delaying tactics during the process is something that distorts the "responsibility" that a public servant has since they must answer for their actions.

In 2015, the Supreme  Court opened a criminal case against Martinelli for wiretapping.

The former president was extradited from the USA in June 2018 and in December of that year, the Court declined jurisdiction of the trial following the resignation of Martinelli as a  deputy of the Central American Parliament.
 
Meanwhile, Martinelli is planning to run for mayor of Panama. with a self-described "sexual buffalo" as his running maye
 

https://newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-urged-to-face-up-to-trial-1

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Facing trial, Martinelli  "anxiety" confirmed

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Posted 15/03/2019
 
Former president  Ricardo Martinelli, facing trial in a case in which a prosecutor has called for a 21-year sentence has a "mixed depressive anxious disorder in relation to his current legal situation." 

The  diagnosis  came from The  Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) after a Thursday, March 14 assessment

Roberto Tejeira, who chairs the court trying Martinelli   for allegedly ordering spying on political opponents, lawyers  and journalists opponents of in his government, received the report on Thursday afternoon and and then sent a note to Imelcf asking if Martinelli the former president is able o face the oral trial and if he should follow any medical treatment. 

The Public Ministry, through Prosecutor Ricaurte González, is requesting the Court to summon the parties to discuss the content of the forensic report. 

The trial, which began on  Tuesday, was suspended that same day, because the defense presented a certificate from private psychiatrist  Frank Guelfi that incapacitated the former president until March 31. The Trial Court ordered the Imelcf to conduct an evaluation, which was carried out by the forensic psychiatrists Alejandro Pérez Méndez and Olga Bouche de Romero.

Guelfi diagnosed that Martinelli has anxiety, suicidal ideas, and depression.

Martinelli has been detained in El Renacer since June 11, 2018, when he was extradited by the United States
 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/facing-trial-martinelli-anxiety-confirmed

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Martinelli son in Miami court

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Posted 18/03/2019
 
Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, son of former president Ricardo Martinelli attended an Immigration Court hearing in of Miami, where he was arrested, last November, for being illegally in the country.

He was accompanied by his lawyers and his wife Melissa Garúz.. The closed hearing lasted was private and lasted took about 30 minutes.

Luis Enrique and his brother  Ricardo Alberto  Rica  Martinelli Linares were both arrested on November 20, 2018, since, as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) said at the time, their visas were revoked in 2017 and, Since then, they have been "illegally" in the country. They stayed more than 15 days in the Krome detention center, where a judge granted bail of  $1million each

Luis Enrique and his family habitually resident in Miami, at least since 2015. They have occupied an apartment in Icon Tower, on Brickell Ave., and the name of Luis Enrique has also been linked to a beachfront mansion in Key Biscayne, according to county public records.

The Panamanian Foreign Ministry formally requested the extradition of- the two brothers, to appear in different judicial processes in which they are required. The to face criminal proceedings for money laundering offenses, in the Odebrecht and Blue Apple cases.

Bullet dodging
Although they are not in Panama for years, both were nominated to the Central American Parliament a move which in Panama gives them freedom from prosecution until 15 days after the election. Luis Enrique is first on the list of the Alianza party, as alternate deputy of Héctor Valderrama ; Ricardo Alberto, as substitute for Carlos Outten number three on the Democratic Change list for Parlacen.

The Martinelli Linares brothers are required by anti-corruption prosecutors to face criminal proceedings for money laundering offenses, in the Odebrecht and Blue Apple cases.

Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, son of former president Ricardo Martinelli attended an Immigration Court hearing in of Miami, where he was arrested, last November, for being illegally in the country.

He was accompanied by his lawyers and his wife Melissa Garúz.. The closed hearing lasted was private and lasted took about 30 minutes.

Luis Enrique and his brother  Ricardo Alberto  Rica  Martinelli Linares were both arrested on November 20, 2018, since, as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) said at the time, their visas were revoked in 2017 and, Since then, they have been "illegally" in theat country. They stayed more than 15 days in the Krome detention center, where a judge granted bail of the of $1 million each

Luis Enrique and his family habitually resident in Miami, at least since 2015. They have occupied an apartment in Icon Tower, on Brickell Ave., and the name of Luis Enrique has also been linked to a beachfront mansion in Key Biscayne, according to county public records.

The Panamanian Foreign Ministry formally requested the extradition of- the two brothers, to appear in different judicial processes in which they are required. The to face criminal proceedings for money laundering offenses, in the Odebrecht and Blue Apple cases.

Bullet dodging
Although they are not in Panama for years, both were nominated to the Central American Parliament a move which in Panama gives them freedom from prosecution until 15 days after the election. Luis Enrique is first on the list of the Alianza party, as alternate deputy of Héctor Valderrama ; Ricardo Alberto, as substitute for Carlos Outten number three on the Democratic Change list for Parlacen.

The Martinelli Linares brothers are required by anti-corruption prosecutors to face criminal proceedings for money laundering offenses, in the Odebrecht and Blue Apple cases.

Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, son of former president Ricardo Martinelli attended an Immigration Court hearing in of Miami, where he was arrested, last November, for being illegally in the country.

He was accompanied by his lawyers and his wife Melissa Garúz.. The closed hearing lasted was private and lasted took about 30 minutes.

Luis Enrique and his brother  Ricardo Alberto  Rica  Martinelli Linares were both arrested on November 20, 2018, since, as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) said at the time, their visas were revoked in 2017 and, Since then, they have been "illegally" in theat country. They stayed more than 15 days in the Krome detention center, where a judge granted bail of the of $1 million each

Luis Enrique and his family habitually resident in Miami, at least since 2015. They have occupied an apartment in Icon Tower, on Brickell Ave., and the name of Luis Enrique has also been linked to a beachfront mansion in Key Biscayne, according to county public records.

The Panamanian Foreign Ministry formally requested the extradition of- the two brothers, to appear in different judicial processes in which they are required. The to face criminal proceedings for money laundering offenses, in the Odebrecht and Blue Apple cases.

Bullet dodging
Although they are not in Panama for years, both were nominated to the Central American Parliament a move which in Panama gives them freedom from prosecution until 15 days after the election. Luis Enrique is first on the list of the Alianza party, as alternate deputy of Héctor Valderrama ; Ricardo Alberto, as substitute for Carlos Outten number three on the Democratic Change list for Parlacen.

The Martinelli Linares brothers are required by anti-corruption prosecutors to face criminal proceedings for money laundering offenses, in the Odebrecht and Blue Apple cases.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-son-in-miami-court

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Anxious Martinelli fit to stand trial - psychiatrists

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Posted 19/03/2019
 
In spite of his anxiety and depression, former president Ricardo Martinelli is fit  to stand trial for allegedly spying on communications of at least 150 people  say the psychiatrists of the  Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) Alejandro Pérez and Olga Bouche

The forensic psychiatrists responded to the judge Roberto Tejeira, president of the court of after receiving on the March 14  a psychiatric evaluation that determined that Martinelli has guidelines to be diagnosed with "mixed depressive anxious upheaval".

"The diagnosis allows him you to have the cognitive and volitional capacity to understand the relevant legal concepts and procedures in his case," the doctors concluded in the report they sent to the court.

Bouche and Pérez also suggested that Martinelli continue taking the medications prescribed by his treating physicians.

The evaluation of the forensic psychiatrists does not say anything about the incapacity certificate that Martinelli had received from his private psychiatrist Frank Guelfi., the latest in a thread of medically based attempts to delay a trial.
 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/anxious-martinelli-fit-to-stand-trial-psychiatrists

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Martinelli snooping  trial resumes on March 22

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Fit to face the music

Posted 19/03/2019
 
THE wiretapping trial of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli will resume at 9 am on Friday, March 22, after forensic psychiatrists ruled that his mixed anxiety-depressive disorder would not hinder his ability to follow the proceedings which could lead to a lengthy prison sentence.

The decision of the forensic psychiatrists negated the disability certificate from his private psychiatrist, Frank Guelfi presented by defense lawyers.

However the Court decided to send Martinelli to the Institute of Legal Medicine for a review because the doctor who had issued the document was the subject of multiple questions from plaintiffs whose communications had been accessed under Martinelli’s administration.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-snooping-trial-resumes-on-march-22

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Martinelli family media muzzling moves

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Martinelli playing to the media at trial

Posted 21/03/2019
 
Jailed ex-president  Ricardo Martinelli whose criminal trial for mass illegal snooping resumes on Friday, March 22 has filed a complaint about an alleged crime against honor, in the form of slander and insult, in an opinion column in La Estrella de Panamá.

The action was presented lawyer Alejandro Pérez, , against Eduardo Quirós , president of Grupo Editorial El Siglo and La Estrella (GESE); Gerardo Berroa Loo, director of La Estrella ; the editors Esther Arjona , Carlos Anel Cordero , Daniel Molina and Errol Caballero , and Alberto Velásquez Morales , author of the column entitled " The triumph of Rómulo and the decline of Martinelli ", published in the Opinion section, on August 24, 2018

"We are facing a quarrel so absurd that if it were not a former president of the Republic and a country where institutionality is so deteriorated, I would simply laugh," said Quirós.

It is the second complaint of the former president against GESE, for an opinion article. Last February he took action against the newspaper for the publication of the article " Las paletas del loco,” (The flailing of the crazy one) signed by Mariano Mena.

It is common for Martinelli and his family to file lawsuits against journalists and media.

On August 21, five journalists from  La Prensa  testified before the Public Prosecutor's Office following a lawsuit that sought to  "order the media, the written press, television, radio and social networks, and especially the newspaper  La Prensa to cease, cease and refrain from disclosing or publishing facts and situations of a private and family nature, and the first and last name or surnames in general of the family group, as part of a media campaign against the members of this Panamanian family ". 

The former president also took legal action against Mariela Ledezma and Annette Planells, from the Sal y Pimienta (Salt and Pepper) radio program.

Journalist unions have warned that these demands seek to silence any criticism against the ex-president and his family, under investigation in multiple corruption cases.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/media-watch/martinelli-family-media-muzzling-moves

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Trial delayed as Martinelli replays health card

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Martinelli arrives under escort

Posted 22/03/2019
 
Former president  Ricardo Martinelli was not on time on Friday, March 22 for the resumption of his trial for illegal interception of communications.

Once again, the man who wants to run for mayor played a health card and after leaving El Renacer prison under heavy escort he was visited at the court by a team of doctors. and according to media reports he had a blood pressure reading of 160/90.

The hearing was adjourned tt3 pm and he was taken to Santo Tomas, [public] Hospital, for further evaluation. The prosecutor asked the court to contiue with the trial while Martinelli was absent, and his lawyers preent.

He has in the past refused to take prescribed medications, and last week when a team of psychiatrists declared him able to stand trial they warned that he should continue  to take his designated drugs

The reprogramming of his trial for Friday took place after the clarification of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) that determined that Martinelli, currently under preventive detention was able to attend this proceeding. 

This process began on March 12 but was suspended because the defense of the former president requested that it be examined by the Imelcf doctors. That request was accepted by the judge, and in addition, it ruled that the private psychiatric examinations that had already taken place be reviewed. 

Meanwhile, Balbina Herrera, victim and coadjutant complainant, said that this trial is a "precedent", not only in the case of former President Martinelli but for the current and future governors of the country. This, in the sense that you cannot use the National Security Council to persecute opponents or adversaries., "As of today there is a before and after," she said he added.  

Carlos Carrillo,  of Martinelli's legal team, said they have always shown their willingness to face this process, but also respect the integrity and presumption of innocence of their client. Other lawyers present are Sidney Sitton, Jessica Canto, and Alfredo Vallarino.  

Marta Linares de Martinelli, who did not give statements to the media, also attended.

The lawyer Alma Cortés, a minister in the government of Martinelli, and herself under criminal investigation, was also present in Plaza Ágora. Cortés arrived in a Lexus vehicle, which carried flags of the Democratic Change (CD)party.  

Currently, Martinelli is running as a candidate for deputy of the 8-8 circuit and for mayor of the capital, for the Democratic Change and Alliance parties. 

The Oral Trial Court is made up of Roberto Tejeira (president); Arlene Caballero (rapporteur) and Raúl Vergara. 

Martinelli is accused of the alleged crimes of inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy and against public administration.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/trial-delayed-as-martinelli-replays-health-card-1

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Martinelli legal circus upended again

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Martinelli ambulance got police escort to Social Security hospital

Posted 22/03/2019
 
The Public Ministry, represented by the prosecutor Aurelio Vásquez, sustained on Friday, March 22, the accusation against former President  Ricardo Martinelli, for the alleged commission of four crimes: against the inviolability of secrecy and the right to privacy, and two types of embezzlement after a day of fluctuations linked to Martinelli’s sudden jump in blood pressure from a 130/70 early reading which one prosecutor suspected was because he didn’t take his medication, which has happened before,

The accusation brought forward by the prosecution was originally prepared, in October 2015, by magistrate Harry Díaz, then acting as prosecutor, when the case was in the competence of the Supreme Court. The accusation was later modified, but Diaz never varied in his request: 21 years in prison for Marinelli the former president, if found guilty.

In Friday’ hearing, the Trial Court - formed by judges Roberto Tejeira (president), Arlene Caballero and Raúl Vergara - ruled out the participation of Rosendo Rivera as independent plaintiff, since he did not present the corresponding documentation. The Court did recognize Rivera as a victim of the espionage conducted by the National Security Council to 150 opponents in the last two years of Martinelli's term.

The prosecutor Vásquez presented the summary of the case theory of the case, which are the crimes that are committed by to the defendant and how in the past government the rules were changed so that the National Security Council responded directly to Martinelli, then president of the Republic.

While the prosecutor was speaking, Martinelli was talking with his lawyers Alma Cortés and Jessica Cantó. Occasionally he also addressed one of his sisters, who was sitting behind him. His wife, Marta Linares de Martinelli, had left at noon.

The trial will resume next Monday, March 25. The next day, Tuesday, there will be no hearing, because Martinelli must appear in another process, also in the SPA offices. And Additionally, on Wednesday, March 27, is the hearing in the Fifth Electoral Court, on the challenge to the two candidacies of the ex-president: a deputy for the circuit 8-8 and mayor of Panama.

The trial was set to resume at 9:00 on am this Friday, after being suspended - on March 12 - because Martinelli presented a disability certificate issued by a private psychiatrist.

Finally, it started at 11:00 am, after the former president was examined by paramedics of the Emergency Management System (Sume 911) and a doctor from the Ministry of Health, who determined that he had a blood pressure of 160/90., the court ordered him transferred by ambulance to  Hospital Santo Tomás. However, the Sume 911 applied its emergency protocol and went to the nearest hospital, which is San Miguel Arcángel. 

Martinelli received attention and the audience was able to continue, starting at 3:30 p.m. Previously, the prosecutor had requested that it not be interrupted, and that progress be made with or without the physical presence of the accused, represented by his team of lawyers.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-legal-circus-upended-again-1

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Martinelli on air boast boomerangs

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Rethinking faux pas

Posted 23/03/2019
 
During the weekend, while he awaits the resumption of a snooping trial that could substantially increase his stay in El Renacer Prison, his current home, ex-president Ricardo Martinelli will have time to ponder the wisdom of crowing about his secret knowledge 

When media stories first surfaced about the wiretapping activities of the National Security Council, including the roughing up of an investigative journalist, Martinelli said On the morning newscast of Telemetro “I have the dossier and the pedigree of all” when he was president of the Republic. Now, five years after leaving office, he faces an oral trial for four crimes related to the “wiretapping” ordered during his term in office.

Health crisis
He may also ponder the continued failure to halt his trial with constant health “crises”

On Friday, March 22, the trial against Martinelli resumed after early setbacks calling for physical and mental checks amid setbacks. The hearing was scheduled for 9:00 am however, it started at 11:00 am and, after 37 minutes, was suspended.

On arrival at the court Martinelli whose blood pressure reading was normal when he left the prison, suffered a “hypertensive crisis.” He was evaluated by the paramedics of 911 and the Ministry of Health (Minsa), who got a reading of 160/100. Some observers thought the jump could be because he failed to take his prescribed medication.

He was whisked to the hospital at 11.am and the hearing resumed at 3:29 in the afternoon. Among the measures that were adopted was to have Dr. Eduardo Rodríguez, from El Renacer permanently in court.

Finally, three and a half years after the process started, the indictment was finally read by the Public Ministry (MP), represented by the superior prosecutors Vásquez and Ricaurte González.

Prosecutor Gonzalez said that Martinelli established an “apparatus of power to violate human rights'”, in which the victims were known as “targets”.

There was a “'systematic violation of privacy” of people for which the necessary resources and equipment were supplied using public funds.

After the elections of May 2014, in which the ruling party candidate José Domingo Arias lost, Martinelli ordered the demolition of the facilities and equipment used.

To carry out the interceptions, Martinelli appointed Ronny Rodríguez aka 'Didier' and two other people, the prosecutor said.

Defense denial
Carlos Carrillo, one of seven member defense team, said made up of seven lawyers, indicated that the Prosecutor's Office will not be able to demonstrate that Martinelli, through officials, used equipment to intercept communications, nor did he use the equipment.

“Martinelli did not receive reports, did not give orders, and he did not physically attend the Security Council,' said the lawyer.

"There is not a single written order that links Martinelli to the crimes he is accused of today," Carrillo said.

The trial resumes  Monday at 9:00 with the witnesses of the Public Ministry. A protected witness will be summoned the defense wants his identity revealed.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-on-air-boast-boomerangs-1

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Ex-president’s wiretapping trial continues

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Posted 25/03/2019
 
FOURTEEN files of documentary evidence presented by the Organized Crime  Prosecutor's Office were admitted by the three-judge panel in spite of defense objections at the Oral trial of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli on Monday,  March 25.

He is facing charges of illegal wiretapping and embezzlement.,

The trial will resume on Tuesday, March 26, at 9:00 am, at the offices of the Accusatory Criminal System in Plaza Ágora.

The Trial Court granted the defense attorneys and the complainants seven days to examine the case booklets.

The deadline for lawyers to examine the booklets begins after completing the presentation evacuation of all documentary evidence submitted by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The files are based on ocular inspections made by the National Security Council and computer equipment related to the case.

"The analysis of the digital evidence by the Public Prosecutor's Office is wrong, everything was done badly", said Sidney Sitton, one of Martinelli's lawyers.

 During the morning hearing, there was a recess to take Martinelli’s blood pressure.  A doctor from the Ministry of Health found that the pressure was stable. 

Martinelli is currently in provisional detention in El Renacer prison  and arrived at the judicial facility as on previous occasions, under strong security measures.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ex-presidents-wiretapping-trial-continues

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