Panama approves embattled ex-President Martinelli’s passage to Nicaragua

Panama’s government has approved safe passage for embattled former President Ricardo Martinelli to leave the country for Nicaragua, after facing prison for money laundering.

Foreign Affairs Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez announced on Thursday that Martinelli would be allowed to leave, citing concerns about the former president’s health.

Martinelli had previously been granted asylum by Nicaragua, and he has been avoiding arrest by sheltering in the country’s embassy in Panama City.

Panama’s foreign minister declined to mention specifics about the health concerns Martinelli faces.

“Given that justice’s timeline does not always coincide with health’s timeline, the Foreign Relations Ministry has decided to recognise the asylum granted to Mr Martinelli Berrocal by the Nicaraguan government,” Martinez-Acha Vasquez said.

“This asylum is recognised and the safe conduct is granted for strictly humanitarian reasons.”

Martinelli, 73, has exhausted all appeals in his case after being sentenced in 2023 to 10 years in prison for money laundering. He also received a $19m fine in the case.

The conviction led to an end to Martinelli’s political career. Last year, Panama’s Electoral Tribunal ruled he could not run in that year’s presidential race

Panama’s constitution bars anyone with a criminal sentence of five years or more from holding elected office. Prior to the ruling, however, Martinelli was considered a frontrunner in the race.