The Supreme Court of Panama has issued an arrest warrant for the country’s former President Ricardo Martinelli who ruled over the country from 2009 to 2014. It is believed that Martinelli is hiding in Florida where he owns a Miami condo in the wealthy Brickell neighborhood.
It is alleged by the court as well as prosecutors that while he was president, Martinelli surveilled 150 people illegally and paid for it with public funds. Among the 150 individuals surveiled were politicians, members of the business community and medical professionals.
Martinelli was allegedly collecting private information about various political opponents and their allies including the brother of Panama’s current President Juan Carlos Varela. Those who surveilled Martinelli’s political foes on his behalf were part of Panama’s National Security Council.
The arrest warrant for Martinelli was issued by Panama’s Supreme Court because he missed a court date earlier this month. Prosecutors began investigating the former president in June for having engaged in illegal surveillance while in office.
Martinelli fled his homeland in January just as the country’s Supreme Court was going to declare that it would permit prosecutors to investigate the former leader for corruption charges. Martinelli was a prominent businessman before entering politics.
In 2014, Martinelli was indicted for corruption in Italy due to business dealings with controversial former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Martinelli is a dual citizen of Italy and Panama.
Martinelli’s current whereabouts are unknown. The U.S. has an extradition agreement with Panama.
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