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LatinNews Daily - 12 June 2018

In brief: Panama

Panama: The US has extradited Panama’s former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009 to 2014) back to Panama to face charges of illegal wiretapping and embezzlement. Martinelli was arrested in Miami on 12 June 2017 based on an extradition request from the Panamanian government led by President Juan Carlos Varela. According to a US State Department press release, “his case followed the normal procedure for extradition governed by the bilateral treaty and US law and was handled in accordance with applicable legal procedures throughout the process”. On 11 June international anti-corruption NGO Transparency International (TI) issued a statement urging “authorities to ensure that he is kept in detention and tried in a fair process for the full extent of his alleged crimes”. Olga de Obaldía, executive director of TI Panama, warned that “Martinelli continues to have the financial means and the political support in Panama that could allow him to escape justice if authorities do not act with all the weight and force allowed by the law”. She notes that “his lawyers unexpectedly cancelled his appeal in the extradition case, suggesting that he may consider extradition to Panama to be a route to impunity.”

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