Panama's ex-President fighting spying charges from abroad

Source: Associated Press

Panama's ex-President fighting spying charges from abroad
Associated Press
By JUAN ZAMORANO
5 hours ago

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama's former President Ricardo Martinelli insisted on Tuesday that he's being targeted politically and will stay outside the country while fighting charges that he illegally spied on opponents.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered his detention for allegedly intercepting the communications of at least 150 people during his 2009 to 2014 administration. The case is one of a half-dozen investigations against the 63-year-old supermarket magnate for alleged corruption.

Martinelli left Panama aboard his private jet in January after the election of archrival Juan Carlos Varela and a day after the Supreme Court took steps to lift his immunity as a current member of the Central American Parliament. He is believed to be living in Florida, and Panama must now request his extradition for the trial against him to proceed.

"I will prove my innocence here because there is no justice over there," Martinelli said in a statement. "I'll go if a politically appropriate moment presents itself, or after that tyrant leaves in 2019."



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