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Panama ex-leader Ricardo Martinelli faces corruption probe | Panama ex-leader Ricardo Martinelli faces corruption probe |
(5 months later) | |
The Supreme Court in Panama has voted in favour of investigating former President Ricardo Martinelli over corruption allegations. | The Supreme Court in Panama has voted in favour of investigating former President Ricardo Martinelli over corruption allegations. |
The court said it would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate claims that Mr Martinelli had inflated multi-million dollar contracts during his time in office from 2009 to 2014. | The court said it would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate claims that Mr Martinelli had inflated multi-million dollar contracts during his time in office from 2009 to 2014. |
Mr Martinelli denies the allegations. | Mr Martinelli denies the allegations. |
His successor in office, Juan Carlos Varela, campaigned on a promise to clean up Panamanian politics. | |
'Pressure' | 'Pressure' |
The Supreme Court made the decision on Wednesday after a former government official accused Mr Martinelli of pressuring him to sign "anomalous" contracts worth $45m (£30m). | The Supreme Court made the decision on Wednesday after a former government official accused Mr Martinelli of pressuring him to sign "anomalous" contracts worth $45m (£30m). |
The former official, Giacomo Tamburelli, ran a government social programme and is himself under investigation for alleged corruption. | The former official, Giacomo Tamburelli, ran a government social programme and is himself under investigation for alleged corruption. |
The probe centres on accusations that the government paid highly inflated prices for dried food it handed out to students as part of its social programme. | The probe centres on accusations that the government paid highly inflated prices for dried food it handed out to students as part of its social programme. |
Mr Martinelli, a wealthy supermarket tycoon, said the allegations were part of a political vendetta against him by President Varela. | Mr Martinelli, a wealthy supermarket tycoon, said the allegations were part of a political vendetta against him by President Varela. |
Mr Varela has in the past accused Mr Martinelli of taking kickbacks, but this is the first time the former leader faces a formal investigation. | Mr Varela has in the past accused Mr Martinelli of taking kickbacks, but this is the first time the former leader faces a formal investigation. |
Mr Martinelli travelled to Guatemala on Wednesday to attend a session of the Central American parliament, a regional political body with headquarters in Guatemala City. | Mr Martinelli travelled to Guatemala on Wednesday to attend a session of the Central American parliament, a regional political body with headquarters in Guatemala City. |
The former leader did not say whether he would return to Panama. | The former leader did not say whether he would return to Panama. |
"I will make that decision in the future, but I am not going to go for a trial arranged by Mr Varela," he said. | "I will make that decision in the future, but I am not going to go for a trial arranged by Mr Varela," he said. |
During his presidential campaign, Mr Varela, a former Martinelli ally turned bitter rival, said he would root out widespread corruption within Panama's political system. | During his presidential campaign, Mr Varela, a former Martinelli ally turned bitter rival, said he would root out widespread corruption within Panama's political system. |
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