Ricardo Martinelli, former President of Panama, exited the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City, where he had found shelter for over a year following a court ruling upholding his conviction for money laundering. Martinelli traveled to Colombia after being granted political asylum, the Panamanian government announced late Saturday.
Panama’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Colombian President Gustavo Petro had communicated with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino informing him about the asylum granted to Martinelli. Panama agreed to provide safe passage for the former president to reach Colombia.
In a statement, the ministry highlighted Colombia’s strong track record of respecting and adhering to International Law principles, including the asylum mechanism within the Inter-American framework.
In July 2023, the 73-year-old Martinelli received a 10-year prison sentence for money laundering linked to the acquisition of a publishing group. Following the validation of his sentence, he sought refuge at the Nicaraguan diplomatic mission in Panama, utilizing the asylum offered by President Daniel Ortega’s government. Martinelli stayed in the embassy for over a year.
A successful businessman and supermarket owner, Martinelli served as Panama’s president from 2009 to 2014, a time of substantial economic growth fueled by significant developments like Central America’s inaugural metro system and the interoceanic canal’s expansion. However, his administration faced allegations of corruption and nontransparent spending. The United States imposed sanctions against him for corruption in January 2023.
Martinelli claimed that the charges against him had political motivations, pointing out that he intended to run for the presidency again. He had secured his party’s nomination for another presidential bid in 2023, but was disqualified after being convicted of money laundering and losing his subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court. In the end, Martinelli lent his support to his running mate, now President Mulino.
In February 2024, Nicaragua offered Martinelli political asylum, a request Panama denied, blocking his relocation to Nicaragua. Prior to this, Colombia’s government had not publicly spoken about Martinelli’s situation.