Panama - Judge requests lifting of Martinelli protection

Baloisa Marquínez, third judge liquidating criminal cases, has requested the lifting of the criminal electoral jurisdiction of former president Ricardo Martinelli, who is being prosecuted for alleged money laundering through the company New Business, for the purchase of the company Editora Panamá América (Epasa).

The judge's request was filed on Wednesday, February 2. Now, according to the changes made to the Electoral Code in 2021, this petition must be reviewed by an Electoral Administrative Court and, if there is an appeal, it passes to the full TE.

During the hearing on January 27, Martinelli's lawyers invoked legal armor as a result of an internal electoral tournament of the Realizing Goals (RM) party. The next day they presented the certification of the TE and the Third Criminal Court Liquidator suspended the process.

A new hearing date was established for May 19-23 and alternate date for July 4-6.