The Odebrecht case hearing advanced this Thursday with the completion of the reading of the order to trial and the beginning of the presentation of evidence by the Public Prosecutor's Office, amidst strong complaints from defense attorneys regarding the inclusion of what they consider extraordinary evidence. During the session, the defense insisted that the evidence presented by the Prosecutor's Office was not made available in a timely manner and is not formally part of the judicial file, which —they claim— violates the right to defense and the principle of contradiction. In this context, attorney Carlos Carrillo stated that his client, former President Ricardo Martinelli, has had his fundamental rights violated, and he assured that there is no link whatsoever to money laundering or illicit activities. Carrillo explained that the investigation against Martinelli is based on donations received during the 2008 and 2009 political campaign, that is, before assuming the Presidency of the Republic. "The disloyal thing was that the Public Prosecutor's Office remained silent that Brazil had annulled everything derived from the Drousys and My Little Web evidence, and yet they maintained these accusations," emphasized the jurist. Judge grants a deadline to the defenses Faced with repeated questioning from several attorneys, Judge Baloisa Marquínez decided to grant the defense three business days to thoroughly review the objected-to evidence. The decision came after an exchange in the courtroom, where attorneys insisted that all evidence must be known in a timely manner to guarantee the principle of contradiction and due process. The judge established that once the granted term expires, the defense will be able to present observations and requests on the relevance and legality of said evidence, which will determine whether they are kept in the criminal process or not. International evidence and recess Meanwhile, prosecutor Ruth Morcillo presented the defense with new evidence material from international judicial assistance, mainly from Peru and Andorra, which —according to the Prosecutor's Office— is relevant to support the accusation. Judge Marquínez informed that the Public Prosecutor's Office will provide the evidence in digital format, so interested attorneys will have to go to the Court Secretariat with storage devices. Although she allowed the Prosecutor's Office to begin the admission of evidence and for it to be progressively served, she decreed a three-day recess—Friday, Monday, and Tuesday—to guarantee that the defense can adequately analyze the material. The hearing will resume on Wednesday, January 21, at 8:00 a.m., at which time the defense attorneys can formally present their observations.
Odebrecht Case in Panama: New Evidence and Defense Protests
In Panama, the high-profile Odebrecht case continues. The Public Prosecutor's Office has begun presenting new evidence, while the defense accuses authorities of rights violations and demands full access to all materials. The judge has granted both sides time to analyze the evidence.