Panama City (EFE).- The former president of Panama Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) was found guilty of the crime of money laundering for the purchase of a media publisher and sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison, according to the sentence conviction to which EFE had access this Tuesday.
“Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal (…) sentences him to 128 months in prison and the payment of a fine for the total sum of 19,221,600.48 dollars”, indicates the sentence of the liquidating judge of Criminal Cases Baloísa Marquínez.
In a press release issued by the Judicial Branch, it was indicated that Martinelli, 71 years old and presidential candidate for his Realizando Metas (RM) party for the May 2024 elections, was declared “responsible as the author” of the crime Against the Economic Order , in the Money Laundering modality, specifically by article 254 of the Penal Code”, which establishes penalties of between 5 and 12 years.
Martinelli says he is “politically persecuted”
This sentence, which is of first instance and therefore appealable, orders “the dissolution of two companies and the (de)confiscation of the shares of a publishing house, in favor of the State, as well as the administration of movable and immovable property of said editorial”, indicated the legal letter.
In this case, in addition to Martinelli, four other people were sentenced for money laundering, while 10 were acquitted, said the Judicial Branch.
Martinelli, who says he is “politically persecuted,” also faces money laundering charges in the case of bribery from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, whose trial is expected to begin next August.
The “New Business” case began in 2017 and involves 21 people for the alleged purchase with public funds of Editorial Panamá América SA (Epasa), although there are 15 defendants at the trial hearing.
Some of the 21 defendants were able to reach sentence agreements, judicial sources told EFE. One of them also died, according to official information.
For the purchase of Epasa, 43.91 million dollars were collected in December 2010, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, which affirms that Martinelli “contacted contractors, contributed money” and was “beneficiary” by being the “holder of 60% of the shares from the publisher.
Martinelli, who says he is “politically persecuted,” also faces money laundering charges in the bribery case of the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, whose trial is expected to begin next August.