Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli arrested Monday in Miami

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Univision


Martinelli served as president of Panama from 2009 to 2014 and is wanted there on corruption charges involving an alleged wire-tapping scheme.

Univision digital reporter
Por: David Adams
Publicado: jun 12, 2017 | 09:06 PM EDT




Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli.


Ricardo Martinelli, the former president of Panama, was arrested Monday evening in Miami, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed to Univision.

The billionaire supermarket magnate was taken into custody in Coral Gables around 7:30 p.m. and taken to the Federal Detention Center, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals in Miami.

It is not known what charges he faces. Martinelli served as president of Panama from 2009 to 2014 and is wanted there on corruption charges involving an alleged wire-tapping scheme.

Martinelli fled to the United States on a visitor visa in January 2015.

Read more: http://www.univision.com/univision-news/united-states/former-panamanian-president-ricardo-martinelli-arrested-monday-in-miami

[Judi Lynn]

1. Former Panama President Martinelli arrested in Florida - U.S. Marshals Service

Tue Jun 13, 2017 | 2:59am BST


Fugitive former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, wanted by the Central American nation on charges of political espionage, has been arrested in Coral Gables, Florida, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service said on Monday.

Interpol issued an arrest warrant last month for Martinelli, accused of using public money to spy illegally on more than 150 people in his own country during his 2009-2014 term as president. U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Barry Golden said Martinelli was slated to make his initial court appearance before a federal judge in Miami on Tuesday.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-panama-martinelli-idUKKBN19407E?rpc=401&




When Martinelli ran first, he hid in Itlay with his friend, Silvio Berlusconi





"I set the bag on fire, rang the doorbell and ran off."

[mr_lebowski]

2. A Billionaire President ... arrested for wire-tapping? This I gotta see ...

Guessing he'll skate so fast it'll make your head spin ... I mean, that's presuming he's not a liberal, which I'm guessing he's not. If not, he'll get off.

If I'm wrong and he IS left-leaning ... then of course the outcome will be different. He's likely in deep trouble in that case. We all know it works in South America. The US always makes sure that liberals are held accountable for every wrongdoing, whilst righty fascist types can commit whatever atrocities and robberies upon their people they see fit ... and they get off scott-free.

[Judi Lynn]

5. You're right, he has always been a right-wing fat cat.

He's Panama's own kind of Trump, apparently. He seemed to think he was king of all he surveyed by the time he decided to run for the President of Panama. He developed his own enemies' list, set about trying to destroying them, before they started coming after him, and he fled from his own country.

Here's hoping we will be as lucky!



Ricardo Martinelli, only a few years ago, before
he believed he was the President.

[Judi Lynn]

3. EX-PANAMA LEADER FIGHTING EXTRADITION FROM US IN SPYING CASE

Jun 13, 9:12 PM EDT
BY GISELA SALOMON
ASSOCIATED PRESS


MIAMI (AP) -- A former president of Panama sought without success Tuesday to be released from custody as he fights an effort to send him from the U.S. back to his homeland to face charges in a case of political espionage.

. . .

The government of Panama sought the arrest of Martinelli after he failed to show up at a December 2015 court hearing there to face charges stemming from his alleged creation of what authorities described as an extensive and illegal system to monitor phone and other conversations of at least 150 people.

Martinelli, a wealthy businessman who runs a supermarket chain, denies wrongdoing and has described the charges against him as part of a political vendetta. He is seeking political asylum in the U.S.

. . .

A complaint unsealed shortly before his hearing outlined the case against him, including allegations that he diverted $13 million from the Social Investment Fund to set up an illegal system to eavesdrop on conversations of business and political rivals, union activists, journalists, his mistress, and others.

More:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_ARGENTINA_DICTATORSHIP_CHILDREN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-06-13-18-22-29

[Judi Lynn]

4. Ex-Panama leader goes before US judge for extradition hearing

14 June 2017 - 00H20
Ex-Panama leader goes before US judge for extradition hearing





MIAMI (AFP) -
Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli, accused of corruption and spying on political opponents back home, appeared before a US judge Tuesday for a preliminary extradition hearing, officials said.

Martinelli was arrested late Monday at his residence near Miami.

. . .

Allegations include accusations that he helped embezzle $45 million from a government school-lunch program, as well as other cases of extortion, bribe-taking, misappropriation of public funds and abuse of power.

Martinelli has lived in Miami since January 2015 after leaving Panama days before the Supreme Court launched a corruption investigation against him.

More:
http://www.france24.com/en/20170614-ex-panama-leader-goes-before-us-judge-extradition-hearing

[Tatiana]

6. Why is Miami the preferred location for so many of these people?

The sooner we stop being a haven for those seeking to escape justice for their misdeeds, the better.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Someone said once it's like all the dictatorships in the Americas have vomited their politicians

and war criminals upon the closest American soil, good old Miami! I could never forget it.















- click link for photos -

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Romney+Campaigns+Florida+Final+Weekend+Before+F700BFnU8zVx.jpg

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Romney+Campaigns+Florida+Final+Weekend+Before+3r9zSLwvP2xx.jpg

Florida Cuban "exile" Congresscreeps, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, eating yet another pig with Presidential
candidate Romney, on one of his pilgrimages to curry favor there.