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Panama’s Martinelli appeals court decision ruling him ineligible for 2024 election

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PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panamanian ex-President Ricardo Martinelli and his team have appealed an electoral court’s decision finding him ineligible to run in this year’s presidential elections, Martinelli’s lawyer told Reuters on Thursday.

The court declared him ineligible earlier this week, citing his inability to run due to a nearly 11-year prison sentence for money laundering.

Martinelli, a 71-year-old supermarket tycoon who governed between 2009 and 2014, has denied wrongdoing and said his sentence is political prosecution.

The former leader has been staying in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February after requesting asylum in the Central American nation.

Written statements in support for Martinelli can be submitted until Friday, said Alma Cortes, Martinelli’s lawyer. The aim of the appeal is to eventually bring the case before international legal bodies, she said.

“We are waiting for the respective evaluations and considerations, although we already know that they are not going to change that decision,” Cortes said of the electoral court.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; editing by Cassandra Garrison)

Panama’s Martinelli appeals court decision ruling him ineligible for 2024 election

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panamanian ex-President Ricardo Martinelli and his team have appealed an electoral court’s decision finding him ineligible to run in this year’s presidential elections, Martinelli’s lawyer told Reuters on Thursday.

The court declared him ineligible earlier this week, citing his inability to run due to a nearly 11-year prison sentence for money laundering.

Martinelli, a 71-year-old supermarket tycoon who governed between 2009 and 2014, has denied wrongdoing and said his sentence is political prosecution.

The former leader has been staying in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City since February after requesting asylum in the Central American nation.

Written statements in support for Martinelli can be submitted until Friday, said Alma Cortes, Martinelli’s lawyer. The aim of the appeal is to eventually bring the case before international legal bodies, she said.

“We are waiting for the respective evaluations and considerations, although we already know that they are not going to change that decision,” Cortes said of the electoral court.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; editing by Cassandra Garrison)

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Panamanian electoral court bars former president Martinelli’s candidacy in May elections

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Martinelli, a supermarket tycoon who was president of Panama from 2009 to 2014, was convicted last July of money laundering in a case involving the purchase of a media conglomerate with public funds.

Panamanian authorities last month ordered Martinelli’s arrest and the former president has been holed up in the Nicaraguan Embassy since receiving political asylum there.

Magistrate Alfredo Juncá said the tribunal’s decision to disqualify his candidacy came after his sentence was upheld on Monday.

The 71-year-old Martinelli is the presidential candidate of his party even though Panama’s constitution bars anyone sentenced to five years or more for a crime from holding elected office.

Martinelli’s running mate, former Foreign Minister José Raúl Mulino, was authorized by the tribunal to continue alone on the ballot as the presidential candidate. Martinelli was also disqualified from running for a legislative seat.

Martinelli has denied wrongdoing and maintains he is the victim of political persecution.

Martinelli, a populist who oversaw a period of big infrastructure projects, including construction of the capital’s first subway line, is the first former president convicted of a crime in Panama.

Last year, the U.S. government barred Martinelli and his immediate family from entering that country, based on what it called his involvement in “significant” corruption.

Panamanian electoral court bars former president Martinelli’s candidacy in May elections

Martinelli, a supermarket tycoon who was president of Panama from 2009 to 2014, was convicted last July of money laundering in a case involving the purchase of a media conglomerate with public funds.

Panamanian authorities last month ordered Martinelli’s arrest and the former president has been holed up in the Nicaraguan Embassy since receiving political asylum there.

Magistrate Alfredo Juncá said the tribunal’s decision to disqualify his candidacy came after his sentence was upheld on Monday.

The 71-year-old Martinelli is the presidential candidate of his party even though Panama’s constitution bars anyone sentenced to five years or more for a crime from holding elected office.

Martinelli’s running mate, former Foreign Minister José Raúl Mulino, was authorized by the tribunal to continue alone on the ballot as the presidential candidate. Martinelli was also disqualified from running for a legislative seat.

Martinelli has denied wrongdoing and maintains he is the victim of political persecution.

Martinelli, a populist who oversaw a period of big infrastructure projects, including construction of the capital’s first subway line, is the first former president convicted of a crime in Panama.

Last year, the U.S. government barred Martinelli and his immediate family from entering that country, based on what it called his involvement in “significant” corruption.

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