The ruler could thus face trial in the New Business case, a 2017 investigation into committing a crime against the economic order for illegally buying a media group.
During the regular session of the plenary session of the CSJ and on the submission of Judge María Eugenia López, a majority vote of the Electoral Court last March declared unconstitutional, overturning a judgment of the Second Administrative Court that had decided to overturn Martinelli’s electoral criminal jurisdiction. , following a petition presented by Judge Baloisa Marquínez.
This reopens the money laundering case, accompanied by attorney Marquínez. The investigation consists of 164 volumes and started five years ago by the Ministry of State (MP).
According to prosecutors, the new payouts in the New Business case were made by companies, which in turn received contracts for various infrastructure works. All these actions were also carried out in the period 2009-2014.
Highlights on this list include the Arraiján-La Chorrera highway, the sports city of the Caribbean province of Colón and the construction of the new National Assembly (Parliament) building.
The list of indictees in court has one factor in common, which is that most government contractors are in the Martinelli administration and linked to other related court cases, so New Business appears to be the piece of the puzzle that unites them, the MP confirms.
The financial transactions were conducted on bank accounts in the United States, Panama, Switzerland and China.
Martinelli, who often sidesteps the judiciary with arguments, faces further allegations over various corruption counts, including bribes from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht – a public hearing is scheduled for September 12 – and maintains the precautionary measure required to leave the country country prohibits.
Two of the former president’s sons (Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique) are in prison in the United States after they confessed to accepting a $28 million bribe from their father in Odebrecht.
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