Panama’s ex-President Martinelli jailed 10 years for corruption
A court in Panama has sentenced former President Ricardo Martinelli to more than 10 years in prison for money laundering.
According to a report published by Voice of America, the country’s attorney general’s office revealed this on Tuesday.
The office also disclosed that Mr Martinelli’s case, dubbed “new business,” began in 2017 when the office received information that the former president was implicated in financial crimes related to purchasing a news outlet.
The former president’s defence will appeal the sentence and exhaust all the legal options available, Mr Martinelli’s lawyer Carlos Carrillo said in a news conference.
“Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal’s candidacy is solid,” Mr Carrillo said, noting he is still eligible to run for the presidency since there is time to challenge the sentence.
According to the report, the court also imposed a $19.2 million fine on Mr Martinelli.
Mr Martinelli became the first official candidate for Panama’s 2024 presidential election last month after he was elected by the party Realizando Metas, a group he founded two years ago.
The former president’s spokesperson Luis Camacho said his team would analyse what he called a legal attack on Mr Martinelli.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
At least two killed, five injured in Toronto street festival shooting
The police said investigations are ongoing to fish out the shooter, warning the public to stay away from the area.
NationWide
INEC extends deadline for submission of 2027 presidential, NASS candidates’ lists
INEC said the extension followed the Inter-Party Advisory Council’s appeal on behalf of political parties.
Sport
Nigeria’s Flamingos beat Benin 5-3 to reach FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will take place in Rabat, Morocco, from October 17 to November 7, featuring the world’s leading youth teams.
Sport
World Cup: Argentina overcome Switzerland 3-1 after extra time
Argentina advanced into the World Cup semifinals, keeping alive their pursuit of another global title.
Sport
Bellingham brace fires England into 2026 World Cup semifinal
The final whistle confirmed England’s place in the semi-finals, where they will meet either Argentina or Switzerland.
Heading 5
Floods kill 44 people, leave more than one million stranded in Bangladesh
Many households remain trapped in their communities, stranded without food, clean water, and electricity.
