PANAMA CITY: Panama denied its scandal-plagued former president Ricardo Martinelli, who has taken refuge at the Nicaraguan embassy, safe passage out of the country on Friday, following his granting of asylum by Managua.
Martinelli, who was president from 2009 to 2014, was found guilty last year of using stolen public money to buy a stake in a publishing house. He also received a $19 million fine.
Panama’s Supreme Court last week rejected Martinelli’s final appeal against his almost 11-year prison sentence. On Wednesday, Martinelli was granted asylum at the embassy of Nicaragua, whose government urged Panamanian authorities to ensure his “prompt departure” to Nicaragua on humanitarian grounds.
In a statement, the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the request for safe-conduct for Mr Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal to leave the territory of the Republic of Panama has been rejected.” Last week’s Supreme Court decision also dealt a blow to Martinelli’s hopes of reelection in May, with the ex-leader describing the ruling as an “illegal last-minute move” to remove him from the presidential race.
In light of the ruling, Panama’s election authorities are expected to formalise his exclusion from the election.
By AFP
