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Ex-president Martinelli fights extradition to Panama

Wednesday, June 21, 2017


The former president of Panama faced a federal magistrate judge in Miami on Tuesday, in a plea to stay out of jail and fight extradition on charges that he “commandeered” sophisticated wiretapping gear to listen in on political enemies, business rivals and even a mistress.

Ricardo A. Martinelli, 65, who governed Panama from 2009 until 2014, was arrested last week in Coral Gables, on illegal surveillance and embezzlement charges. Martinelli moved to South Florida shortly after his presidency ended and requested political asylum, saying the new president had lodged a politically motivated case against him.

Panama wants him back.

Source: New York Times