Sons of Panama's ex-president Martinelli under investigation in bribery and money laundering case
Sons of Panama's ex-president Martinelli under investigation in bribery and money laundering case
Panamanian officials are looking into $59 million in alleged bribes paid by Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht.
Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli.
Univision digital reporter
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Por: David Adams
Publicado: ene 24, 2017 | 10:01 PM EST
Panamanian prosecutors announced on Tuesday that 17 people, including several businessmen and former government officials, are wanted for questioning in connection to a massive bribery case involving the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht.
Univision has learned that among them are two sons of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli, who is currently fighting extradition in Miami.
Ricardo Alberto Martinelli and Luis Enrique Martinelli, as well as the ex-president's brother Mario Martinelli, are among those linked to a $59 million case being investigated by Panama's Special Anti-Corruption Office, according to a source familiar with the case.
Martinelli's sons were living in Madrid, Spain but fled before arrest orders were issued for them, the source said. They are now also believed to be in Miami, the source added.
The sons have denied the Odebrecht bribery allegations, calling them “groundless.”
Their father, a billionaire supermarket magnate, was president from 2009 to 2014 and has been under investigation for public corruption soon after leaving office, as well as his links to illegal wiretapping of his opponents.
More:
http://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/sons-of-panamas-ex-president-martinelli-under-investigation-in-bribery-and-money-laundering-case
Hiding in Miami! How predictable.
You may recall the father also requested US help in wiretapping his political opposition.
