Former Panama president Ricardo Martinelli to be charged with political espionage
Former Panama president Ricardo Martinelli to be charged with political espionage
Politician accused of using government funds and staff to track and spy on politicians, activists and civil groups
Reuters
Wednesday 14 October 2015 22.51 EDT
A special Panamanian prosecutor plans to charge the former president Ricardo Martinelli with running an illegal political espionage ring during his administration using public funds, according to an indictment seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Martinelli, 63, used taxpayer money and government employees to listen to calls, read messages and have activists, politicians, union members, lawyers, doctors and other civil groups followed.
The political espionage was “a constant and systematic violation of the privacy and human rights of Panamanians”, said Harry Diaz, the magistrate who is prosecuting Martinelli because he is a current member of the Central American Parliament.
. . .
Martinelli, a supermarket tycoon who was president from 2009 to 2014, has four other cases against him at the country’s supreme court, including misuse of public funds, financial crimes, taking bribes and giving illegal pardons.
More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/15/ricardo-martinelli-former-panama-president-to-be-charged-political-espionage
