The preliminary hearing in Panama in the Odebrecht case, considered the biggest heist of the nation’s public funds, is on its ninth day on Friday with arguments by the defense attorneys challenging the process.
In this regard, Senior Prosecutor Ruth Morcillo pointed out that the lawyers have not yet been able to disqualify what they were shown in the files, more than 813 pages read earlier, a summary of the investigation initiated in 2017.
However, Roniel Ortiz, the representative of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), insisted in his appearance on the alleged principle of specialty, which, he said, protects his client.
He claimed immunity as a member of the Central American Parliament. The argument is seen by analysts and media such as La Prensa as another argument to evade charges of money laundering related to the payment of bribes by the Brazilian construction company.
Ortiz commented that this is a political scheme against his main client, although the Supreme Court of Justice and the Third Court of Criminal Cases, on different occasions, have rejected this theory and, consequently, have denied recourses to the defense of the former president. (PL)
