Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Panama ex-President Ricardo Martinelli to end extradition fight
Panama's former President Ricardo Martinelli, currently imprisoned in the US, has announced he intends to drop his extradition fight. Martinelli stands accused of embezzling funds to spy on political opponents.
Date 25.05.2018
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli on Thursday announced he will drop his bid to fight extradition from the US to his native Panama.
Martinelli's lawyer filed a motion in a Miami federal court, indicating the ex-leader would no longer appeal an August 2017 ruling that he could extradited.
The 66-year-old stands accused back in Panama of embezzling over $13.4 million in public funds to form a spy network and target some 150 of his political opponents while he served as president from 2009 to 2014. Martinelli denies the charges, claiming he is the target of a politically motivated prosecution by sitting president, Juan Carlos Varela, who served as Martinelli's vice president.
Martinelli went into exile in Miami in 2015 after a Panama court ordered his arrest. He was arrested on June 12, 2017 in Coral Gables, Florida, at the request of the Panamanian government and has remained in federal prison ever since.
More:
http://www.dw.com/en/panama-ex-president-ricardo-martinelli-to-end-extradition-fight/a-43922010