Panama’s CSJ rejects nullity for trials against Martinelli

Panama City, Mar 15 (Prensa Latina) Panama's Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) on Wednesday rejected nullity filed by former President Ricardo Martinelli´s attorneys to absolve Martinelli from trials for money laundering.

March 15, 2023
14:53

The former president should face trials for New Business and Odebrecht cases, whose hearings are scheduled for April 17 and August 1, 2023, respectively.

In the first case, Martinelli is charged with the purchase of Editora Panamá América, SA (EPASA), presumably with public funds; in the second case, he is accused of bribes paid by Odebrecht to Panamanian politicians and officials in exchange for State contracts to undertake works in the country.

The constitutional guarantees for electoral criminal jurisdiction were violated in the preliminary hearing on September 12, 2022, the court stated.

48 individuals, including Martinelli´s sons, Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique, and former President Juan Carlos Varela, were also indicted for Odebrecht bribes.

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