March 31 – Panama’s police have declined a request from the judiciary to issue an Interpol Red Notice for former President Ricardo Martinelli, citing international regulations that prohibit such notices for individuals granted refugee or political asylum status.
Martinelli, who served as Panama’s president from 2009 to 2014, has been sheltering inside Nicaragua’s embassy in Panama City since authorities sought his arrest following a court conviction for money laundering. Last Thursday, a senior Panamanian official confirmed that the government had approved safe passage for Martinelli to travel to Nicaragua, where he has been granted political asylum.
In a statement, Panamanian police confirmed their decision to reject the request from the judiciary:
“After a legal review of the judicial branch’s request to include former President Martinelli in Interpol’s database, we confirm that we have rejected the processing of said notification. It does not comply with the parameters established by Interpol since 2014, reaffirmed in 2017, which prohibit the issuance of red alerts for individuals classified as refugees or political asylum seekers, as is the case of Mr. Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal.”
Neither Interpol nor Martinelli’s legal representatives were immediately available for comment. However, a spokesperson for Martinelli confirmed via social media that the request for a Red Notice had been denied.
The rejection further complicates Panama’s efforts to secure Martinelli’s extradition, highlighting the legal and diplomatic complexities surrounding his case.
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