Lawyer Reveals Scandal Details Surrounding Martinelli's Disqualification in Panama

Lawyer Karisma Karamañites revealed in the Metro Libre podcast the details of her conversations with Annette Planells, former head of the outlet Foco, and Mauricio Valenzuela. After learning of Ricardo Martinelli's disqualification a day before it was officially announced, Planells consulted Karamañites on the constitutionality of the Electoral Tribunal's decision. Karamañites stated that Planells manipulated her, calling her a 'paladin of justice' and promising she would 'change the country's destiny.' Karamañites also claimed that Valenzuela, Foco's public face, suffers from psychological deterioration, abuses medication, and is aggressive. She recounted that Valenzuela punched her when she tried to pass by. The lawyer highlighted that her colleagues at Foco preferred face-to-face meetings over digital communication and suggested the outlet may have had an extortion scheme targeting politicians and businesses. Karamañites expressed her willingness to take a polygraph test, doubting that her colleagues would do the same. She also mentioned that Planells was pleased the case was assigned to Magistrate Olmedo Arrocha and that she got the impression that Planells and Foco had informal contacts with magistrates.