MIAMI, United States (Reuters) – Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, wanted by the Central American country on political espionage charges, will remain in United States custody until a June 20 bond hearing in a federal court in Miami, a judge ordered on Tuesday (June 13).
Martinelli, accused of using public money to spy illegally on more than 150 political rivals during his 2009-2014 term as president, was arrested outside Miami late on Monday.
He has denied any wrongdoing and said on Twitter last month that his successor, Juan Carlos Varela, was going after him to divert attention from his own problems.
Martinelli appeared in court on Tuesday, shackled and wearing a khaki jail jumpsuit.
His lawyer said the former leader should be released on bail and argued the charges against him did not warrant extradition to the country he left in January 2015. Lawyer Sidney Sitton said the charges are politically motivated and instigated by Varela as revenge.
The former Panamanian leader presided over an infrastructure boom and Latin America’s fastest economic growth in recent years, but his administration was tainted by allegations of corruption.
US Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres set a bond hearing for June 20 but warned that getting bond in extradition cases was difficult. Prosecutors argued Martinelli should remain in detention until he is extradited.
Panama’s Supreme Court issued a warrant for Martinelli’s arrest in December 2015 after he failed to appear at a Panamanian court hearing on his case. Last September, Panama sent the U.S. Department of State a request for his extradition.
Varela, who served as Martinelli’s vice president, has not commented on the former president’s arrest. The two men have sparred bitterly since the transfer of power.
