Panama has made a surprising decision to allow its former president, Ricardo Martinelli, to leave the country, despite his conviction for money laundering. Martinelli, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, has been granted permission to travel to Nicaragua. This move comes after he had taken refuge in Nicaragua’s embassy in Panama City for several weeks, trying to avoid arrest.
The Panamanian government’s announcement on Thursday has sparked widespread discussion. Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez explained that the decision was made due to concerns about Martinelli’s health. However, he did not provide any specific details regarding his condition. The minister stated that the safe passage was granted for “strictly humanitarian reasons.”
Martinelli had exhausted all possible appeals against his conviction, making his prison sentence final. He was also fined $19 million as part of the ruling. His legal troubles effectively ended his political career, as Panama’s constitution forbids anyone sentenced to more than five years in prison from running for office. Before his conviction, he was considered a leading candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.
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Money Laundering Scandal and Legal Battles
Martinelli’s conviction is tied to a major money laundering scheme that prosecutors say he orchestrated while in office from 2009 to 2014. Investigators found that he influenced the awarding of government contracts, ensuring that companies involved in the deals funneled money into a business named “New Business.” Prosecutors argued that this company was merely a front and that Martinelli used it to buy a major publishing house that controlled national newspapers.
This was just one of several scandals surrounding him. He and his two sons, Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares and Ricardo Martinelli Linares, have also been accused of being involved in the Odebrecht case, an international corruption scandal that affected multiple countries in Latin America. The case revealed how a Brazilian construction giant had paid millions in bribes to officials across the region in exchange for government contracts.
Despite these allegations and convictions, Martinelli has continued to deny any wrongdoing. He has remained active on social media, using it as a platform to communicate with his supporters while seeking protection inside the Nicaraguan embassy since February 2024.
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Deadline Set for Departure
Panama had previously refused Martinelli’s request for safe passage, but the situation changed with the latest government decision. The announcement now allows him to leave for Nicaragua, a country that had already granted him asylum.
On social media, Martinelli expressed fears that Panamanian authorities might try to stop him from leaving. He claimed that special police units were stationed outside the Nicaraguan embassy, suggesting a possible plot to intercept him. However, the Panamanian government has not commented on these claims.
Authorities have set a strict deadline: Martinelli must leave the country by midnight on March 31. If he does not depart by then, it remains unclear what action the government will take. For now, all eyes are on his next move as Panama’s decision continues to spark debate.
