Former President of Panama Ricardo Martinelli. Author: Latin press
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli will stand trial on corruption charges for alleged money laundering in the purchase of a national newspaper publisher, after he was acquitted in two previous phone spying trials, sources close to the prosecution told Telesur.
Martinelli, 71, who is aiming to return to power in next year’s elections, underwent spinal surgery last week, in connection with which he sent a medical certificate of absence at the opening of the trial.
The former president and 19 others are on trial in a 2017 Defense Department New Business case involving $43 million in illegal funds transferred to the company through a complex wire transfer scheme to buy a publisher.
The hearing, which is being broadcast live, is taking place at the Second Criminal Court in Panama City.
The First Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office accuses Martinelli and 14 others of buying a majority stake in Editora Panamá América in 2010, allegedly with government money.
According to the prosecution, the defendants used a complex joint-stock company scheme, under which various companies were required to contribute a total of $43.9 million in commissions on contracts with the state for infrastructure works during the Martinelli administration (2009-2014).
According to the state ministry, the New Business Company was a “basket” firm that received money from companies that had contracts with the state during the Martinelli administration (2009–2014), mainly through the Ministry of Public Works.
The crime with which Martinelli is accused carries a penalty of five to 12 years in prison. In addition to this process, Martinelli will face another trial for bribery by the Brazilian consultant Odebrecht between August and October next year, along with his two sons and also former President Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019).
In the midst of these trials, Martinelli continues to campaign politically for the primary election his party will hold in July to select a presidential candidate, subject to the May 2024 general election.
The lawsuits Martinelli has faced are not preventing the ex-governor and supermarket mogul from pursuing his presidential aspirations and continuing his campaign of innocence, according to polling officials. Only a penalty of five years or more could disqualify him.
The former president was extradited to Panama in 2018 from the United States at the request of Panamanian justice to try him for wiretapping politicians, journalists, trade union leaders and civil society figures, but was acquitted in 2020 and 2021.
At the end of January 2023, Martinelli was convicted of corruption by the United States, accusing him of accepting bribes in exchange for project contracts, just the day his two sons returned to their country after serving sentences in New York for laundering millions of dollars. in bribes from the construction company Odebrecht.
Martinelli argues that the trials he faces are politically motivated and designed to thwart his quest to return to power.
Source: Juventud Rebelde