Panama's ex-president gets second acquittal in phone-tapping case
Ricardo Martinelli was accused of wiretapping more than 150 people, including politicians and journalists
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli celebrates after he was found not guilty in an espionage trial in Panama City on November 9 [Luis Acosta/AFP]
Published On 10 Nov 2021
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli has been acquitted on charges he tapped the phones of political opponents and journalists when he was in power.
Martinelli, who served as president from 2009 to 2014, went on trial in July after he was acquitted of similar charges in 2019.
He was also accused of embezzling public funds to spy on his opponents when he led the country, and the prosecution accused him of wiretapping more than 150 people, including politicians and journalists.
But the court ruled on Tuesday that the prosecution’s evidence against Martinelli was insufficient.
“Justice, finally, was applied,” the 69 year old said as he left the court. “Seven years of this torture. I thank God and the Panamanian justice system. I suffered a lot.”
More:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/10/panamas-ex-president-gets-second-acquittal-in-phone-tapping-case
