Panama allows Martinelli to go to Nicaragua!
Panama City, Mar 27 (EFE). –
The Panamanian government granted Thursday safe passage to Nicaragua until Mar. 31 for former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014).
Martinelli, 73, took refuge in the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama on Feb. 7, 2024, after being sentenced to over 10 years in prison and a 19.2 million-dollar fine after being found guilty of money laundering for the purchase of a media conglomerate with public funds.
The former president requested asylum in Nicaragua, arguing his life was “in danger” and he “was politically persecuted,” explained his spokesman, Luis Eduardo Camacho, when Martinelli announced he had entered the embassy in Panama City.
The safe conduct was approved Thursday by the government of President José Raúl Mulino (2024-209), who came to power after winning the May 2024 elections after Martinelli delegated Mulino his presidential candidacy once he was disqualified because of the money laundering case.
Previously, on Feb. 9, 2024, the former government of Laurentino Cortizo (2019-2024) denied the safe conduct to allow Martinelli to leave the country, citing the provisions of Article 1 of the 1928 Asylum Convention and the 1933 Political Asylum Convention, which denies asylum for common crimes.
Martinelli’s stay at the diplomatic mission has been marked by controversy due to his active participation in domestic political affairs, which is strictly prohibited by the asylum rules, as well as the constant remodeling of the diplomatic headquarters to adapt it to his demands.
Martinelli is also accused of money laundering in the Odebrecht case in Panama.
In Spain, he is accused in an investigation against the construction company FCC for the payment of bribes and in another case of interception of communications of a woman in Mallorca. EFE
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