Panama’s ex-president gets second acquittal in phone-tapping case

Riccardo Martinelli was accused of wiretapping more than 150 people, including politicians and journalists.

Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli has been acquitted of charges of tapping the phones of political opponents and journalists while in power.

Martinelli, who served as president from 2009 to 2014, went on trial in July after being acquitted of similar charges in 2019.

He was also accused of embezzling public funds to spy on his opponents while leading the country, and prosecutors have accused him of wiretapping more than 150 people, including politicians and journalists.

But the court ruled on Tuesday that the prosecution’s evidence against Martinelli was insufficient.

“Justice is, after all, enforced,” said the 69-year-old as he walked out of court. “Seven years of this torture. I thank God and the Panama justice system. I was hurt a lot.”

Carlos Herrera Moran, a lawyer for one of the victims of the alleged wiretapping, said the decision was “outside the law and the evidence presented”.

Martinelli was extradited To stand trial in Panama from the United States in 2018.

In August 2019, he was acquitted of espionage and embezzlement charges and released from custody. The court found that prosecutors had violated due process after a five-month trial and also criticized the prosecution’s evidence.

But the Panamanian government won the appeal, arguing that there were enough ingredients for the new trial, which began in July.

As president, Martinelli reportedly spent millions of dollars on sophisticated spying equipment from Israel, including spyware Pegasus,

The Israeli firm NSO Group behind that spyware has faced renewed scrutiny in recent weeks. Investigation International media outlets revealed that Pegasus was used by security forces and authoritarian governments in several countries.

Administration of US President Joe Biden Accepted NSO Group last week accused the Israeli company of enabling “international repression” with its spyware.

NSO Group has dismissed the criticism, saying its products are intended to help authorities deal with criminals and “terrorists”.

Martinelli, the owner of a supermarket chain, is expected to run for president again in 2024. He has described the charges against him as political harassment and an attempt to prevent him from running again.

He rose to the presidency in 2009 after winning an election campaign in which he delivered a speech condemning corruption and the country’s political class.

later his namePandora LetterInvestigating the creation of offshore shell companies meant to hide money in tax havens, but denied involvement in any untoward incidents.

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