Mario Martinelli, brother of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, has reached a plea agreement in the case known as "granosharina." According to this agreement, Mario will serve a sentence of 40 months in prison and must pay a fine of 2 million dollars.
The "granosharina" case refers to alleged irregularities in contracts for the purchase of dehydrated food through the National Aid Program during Ricardo Martinelli's administration.
According to statements from the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Panama, Mario Martinelli's plea agreement includes the collaboration he will provide in the ongoing investigation. This collaboration could be key to clarifying more details about the case and possibly implicating others.
In statements to the press, Mario Martinelli's defense attorney indicated that his client decided to reach this plea agreement to avoid a more prolonged and costly judicial process. Furthermore, he stated that Mario accepts his responsibility for the charges against him and is willing to fully cooperate with justice.
The "granosharina" case has generated great interest in Panama, and this plea agreement with Mario Martinelli may have significant consequences for the development of the investigation and the eventual clarification of facts related to the alleged corruption in the National Aid Program.
