Former President Ricardo Martinelli is closely following his trial from Colombia. According to his lawyer, Jessica Canto, he remains calm despite the anticipation and criticism surrounding the process. Canto reiterated that the donations from the Brazilian company are 'properly declared and justified' to the competent authorities as campaign donations, and therefore they expect justice to be done and due process to be followed. She pointed out that her client is calm, but also has high expectations for the outcome of this case because he has suffered 'many injustices' that make him think he will 'again suffer the same fate'. According to Canto, the former president remembers that this same case was declared null in Brazil and believes the same should happen in Panama. Martinelli's defense considers it unjust that the former president is accused of something that has already been annulled in another country. For jurists, the same should happen at the local level, but they will not get ahead of themselves. Martinelli has been present at all hearings and attentive to every question asked of him. His health status, Canto assures, is stable. On the other hand, the legal team points out that some donations are being sought to be criminalized, even though they were used to pay local media. The defense trusts that Judge Baloisa Marquínez will properly review the evidence and consider the context of the case. 'We expect justice to be done and the former president to be acquitted. Everything is documented: who received the payments, how the donations were made,' added Canto.
The trial will continue on Wednesday with hearings and presentation of evidence. Martinelli has confidence in his team and expects that, finally, there will be a closure to a process that has already lasted for years.
