The Colombian authorities stated on Saturday that it had offered asylum to Ricardo Martinelli, a former Panama president, who had been sheltering for greater than a 12 months on the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama Metropolis to keep away from a jail for cash laundering.
Colombia International Ministry said in a statement that he offered G -n Martinelli asylum and organized to journey by diplomatic automotive from the Embassy of Nicaraguan to a neighborhood airport to catch a flight to Colombia.
Martinelli, 73 -year -old, businessman who runs Panama from 2009 to 2014, said in social media Late Saturday, he arrived in Bogota, the Colombian capital. He stated he had acquired asylum as a political refugee.
In 2023, Martinelli was convicted of cash laundering in a case wherein prosecutors stated the funds have been acquired by state -owned contractors for the acquisition of a publishing home in 2010. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined $ 19 million. The Panama Supreme Courtroom upheld the sentence of attraction.
Martinelli stated the case was politically motivated.
Nicaragua offered G -n Martinelli asylum final 12 months and he threw himself into The Embassy of the nation in Panama Metropolis with some furnishings and his canine, Bruno. He initially stated he campaign On Panama in Could 2024, the presidential election from the Embassy.
Two months earlier than the election, Panama’s electoral tribunal disqualified Martinelli to run for her sentence within the cash laundering case.
Martinelli’s operating half, Jose Raul Mulino, took his place on the e-newsletter and leaned strongly at his presidential heritage within the marketing campaign. Martinelli supported him from the embassy.
D -mulino Won the election with easeS
