The First Court of Appeals of the Criminal Branch of Guatemala rejected two appeals filed by Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares against the authorization of the Fifth Court of Criminal Sentencing, Drug Trafficking and Environmental Crimes of that country to extradite him to the United States.

In this sense, the First Appeals Chamber confirms the decision of the Fifth Criminal Sentencing Court to authorize his extradition to the United States issued on May 25.

Both appeals were presented on June 3.

The lawyers of Luis Enrique Martinelli, son of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli, argued that he enjoys immunity as an elected deputy of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), so his delivery is not appropriate.

Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares and his brother Ricardo Alberto Linares are currently being held in preventive custody in the Mariscal de Zavala Military Base jail, after being captured on July 6, 2020 at La Aurora Airport, where they would take a flight to Panama. .

The Martinelli Linares brothers were arrested on the basis of an extradition order issued by the United States, for their alleged participation in a massive bribery scheme and money laundering from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.