Children of Ex-President Martinelli are sent to Mariscal Zavala prison in Guatemala
The brothers Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares, sons of the former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinell, will be provisionally transferred to the prison of the Mariscal Zavala Military Base in Guatemala, while the date is being set for the hearing in which their extradition will be decided.
Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, arrested last Monday in Guatemala, were taken to a court on duty on Tuesday, to begin the process of their eventual extradition to the United States, where they are required for an alleged conspiracy to launder money.
The transfer decision was established by the Third Court and the Fifth Court of Criminal Sentence, which will be in charge of the legal situation of Ricardo and Luis Martinelli Linares, respectively.
Both courts must hold hearings to consult the Martinelli Linares brothers if they want to join the extradition process.
The lawyer Denis Cuesy Lessing, legal representative of Luis Enrique stated that both citizens are deputies to the Central American Parliament (Parcalen), so they must be released immediately, which he indicated must be brought before a higher body, adding that at the time of to be brought to court the necessary actions will be taken.
At the moment of being summoned before the court we are going to take the necessary actions and in fact we are going to present all actions that at this moment correspond because the detention is illegal ... I have the evidence that the Central American Parliament has issued where it states that Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares have been deputies to Parlacen since 2019, that is, they have a series of prerogatives and that is why they have seen the ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala, because they have detained two deputies, said the lawyer.
Earlier the children of former President Martinelli (2009-2014), appeared before a court where Judge Sabrina Salazar communicated the reason for their arrest, which is based on the fact that there is an extradition order from the United States, signed by judge Shirlly Johanna Maldonado Velásquez on July 3.
Ricardo Martinelli Linares, 40, and Luis, 38, who were captured on Monday, July 6 at Guatemala's La Aurora Airport, where they would take a flight with an alleged destination to Panama, are requested by the United States to face a criminal process before the justice of this country for its alleged participation in a massive bribery and money laundering scheme by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, according to a document from the Department of Justice.
They are accused of participating as intermediaries for the payment of $28 million in bribes to a high-ranking official of the Government of Panama, who has a relationship with both defendants.
The transfer decision was established by the Third Court and the Fifth Court of Criminal Sentence, which will be in charge of the legal situation of Ricardo and Luis Martinelli Linares, respectively.
Both courts must hold hearings to consult the Martinelli Linares brothers if they want to join the extradition process.
The lawyer Denis Cuesy Lessing, legal representative of Luis Enrique stated that both citizens are deputies to the Central American Parliament (Parcalen), so they must be released immediately, which he indicated must be brought before a higher body, adding that at the time of to be brought to court the necessary actions will be taken.
At the moment of being summoned before the court we are going to take the necessary actions and in fact we are going to present all actions that at this moment correspond because the detention is illegal ... I have the evidence that the Central American Parliament has issued where it states that Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares have been deputies to Parlacen since 2019, that is, they have a series of prerogatives and that is why they have seen the ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala, because they have detained two deputies, said the lawyer.
Earlier the children of former President Martinelli (2009-2014), appeared before a court where Judge Sabrina Salazar communicated the reason for their arrest, which is based on the fact that there is an extradition order from the United States, signed by judge Shirlly Johanna Maldonado Velásquez on July 3.
Ricardo Martinelli Linares, 40, and Luis, 38, who were captured on Monday, July 6 at Guatemala's La Aurora Airport, where they would take a flight with an alleged destination to Panama, are requested by the United States to face a criminal process before the justice of this country for its alleged participation in a massive bribery and money laundering scheme by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, according to a document from the Department of Justice.
They are accused of participating as intermediaries for the payment of $28 million in bribes to a high-ranking official of the Government of Panama, who has a relationship with both defendants.