PANAMA CITY (AP) — The U.S. State Department banned former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli from ever touring to the United States, saying Wednesday that he had participated in “significant corruption” in awarding authorities contracts.
The ban additionally utilized to 2 of the previous president’s sons, who returned to Panama on Wednesday after finishing jail sentences within the United States for laundering tens of millions of {dollars} in bribes from Brazilian development large Odebrecht.
“Martinelli accepted bribes in exchange for improperly awarding government contracts during his tenure as the president” from 2009 to 2014, the State Department mentioned in a press release.
The sons, Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares and Ricardo Martinelli Linares, arrived Wednesday night, mentioned an official within the National Immigration Service, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk publicly.
Expectations had been operating excessive for the brothers’ return as a result of they are going to be amongst 36 folks happening trial in August for the Odebrecht scandal. They are accused of laundering tens of millions of {dollars} in bribes paid by Odebrecht throughout their father’s administration.
Their father and one other former president, Juan Carlos Varela, additionally await trial within the case.
The elder Martinelli hopes to run for re-election within the 2024 nationwide elections.
Attorney General Javier Caraballo mentioned Tuesday that his workplace has excessive expectations to see the brothers face justice in Panama.
The brothers paid a couple of $14 million bond prematurely of their arrival to keep away from being detained in Panama. They served three-year sentences within the United States for conspiring to launder about $28 million in bribes from Odebrecht.
Before being extradited to the United States, they had been held in Guatemala for 23 months.
Panama ex-president, sons, barred from US for corruption
Panama ex-president, sons, barred from US for corruption
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Panama ex-president, sons, barred from US for corruption