PanamaTimes

Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Luis Enrique y Ricardo Martinelli Linares fueron detenidos el lunes 6 de julio en el Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora, Guatemala

The US formalizes the extradition request of Martinelli Linares brothers

United States formalized requests for extradition from Guatemala to Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Linares Martinelli, both accused in a New York court for alleged offenses of money laundering and conspiracy to launder money.
The Office of Social Communication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Ministry of Guatemala confirmed this Friday, September 4, that the United States presented the applications and the documents that support it, on August 28.

Next Sunday, the two sons of former President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal will serve two months in detention in a military prison in Guatemala, at the request of the United States.

Guatemala reported that in both processes there have been challenged pending resolution, but they do not specify whether these legal actions make it impossible for the brothers to be handed over to the United States. There is also a protection of guarantees, promoted by the defense of Ricardo Alberto, against decisions of the Third Criminal Sentencing Court, referring to his detention.

The three legal actions (the two challenges and the amparo) must be heard by the First Chamber of the Court of Appeals, said Juan Luis Pantaleón , representative of the Public Ministry of Guatemala.

The defense has some challenges that it has made and it is pending that they can be resolved to proceed with the official procedure, said Pantaleón, who confirmed that the entity received the formal request for extradition on August 28.

Denis Cuesy, a lawyer for the Martinelli Linares brothers, maintains that the extradition process is on hold, since there are challenges pending resolution by the Guatemalan Judicial Branch, reported in response to a query from the Guatemalan newspaper El Periódico .

Cuesy has said that the detention of his clients is illegal, since both are alternate deputies of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). Parlacen has acknowledged that they have not been sworn in for such positions.

The former president's children were captured in Guatemala on July 6, when they tried to board a private plane that would bring them to Panama, where they have been required for years for an investigation, in two investigations for the payment of bribes: Odebrecht and Blue Apple. Three days earlier (July 3, to be exact), the United States had sent the request for provisional arrest to the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry, for extradition purposes. The Foreign Ministry, expeditiously, forwarded that same day the aforementioned request to the Public Ministry of Guatemala, entity that is in charge of filing the indicated requirements before the Jurisdictional Body.

This action shows the total willingness of the Guatemalan authorities to collaborate with the legal procedures that are followed in the courts of justice and their respect for the separation of powers, indicates the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry.

On July 24, the Fifth Criminal Sentencing Court ordered the beginning of the process of Luis Enrique's extradition to the United States. The US authorities were then given 40 days to submit the formal extradition request and the supporting documents.

Ricardo Alberto's case is handled by the Third Criminal Sentencing Court.

According to an accusation filed by the FBI – with whose agents the brothers held meetings on several occasions and in person – Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique had participated as “intermediaries” in the receipt and payment of bribes for $ 28 million, under the direction of Odebrecht.

The payments – as stated in the sealed indictment that is in a New York court – would have benefited a Panamanian official, whose name has not been noted in the documents released so far. However, this official is described as “an official with a very high position in the government of Panama” between 2009 and 2014, a period that corresponds to the presidential term of Martinelli Berrocal, and, in addition, “close relative” of the two defendants.

In Panama, Marta Linares de Martinelli has requested an appointment with President Laurentino Cortizo, with the intention that Panama intercede and request the delivery of the two detainees.
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×