The First Judicial District Court of Appeals of Panama ordered the change of the precautionary measure imposed on Rico Pineda, replacing provisional detention with house arrest within an investigation for alleged drug and money laundering crimes. The decision revokes the ruling of a first-instance judge who had rejected the request filed by the defendant's defense. The defense based its appeal on the Code of Criminal Procedure. Lawyer Víctor Orobio, Pineda's legal representative, explained that the defense acted in accordance with Article 240 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a norm that allows for the review of precautionary measures when circumstances change in favor of the detained person. "The defense team scheduled a hearing based on Article 240 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which establishes the review of these measures when circumstances have changed in favor of the detainee," detailed Orobio. The appeal revokes the initial ruling and benefits the defendant. According to the jurist, although the request was denied in the first instance, the defense filed an appeal, managing to get the magistrates to accept their arguments. "The review of the measure was initially rejected, but in the appeal hearing, the magistrates of the Court of Appeals gave us reason, benefiting our client with a house arrest measure, in place of the provisional detention he was serving in a penal center in the country," the lawyer stated. The process continues in the investigation phase. The judicial process against Rico Pineda remains in the investigation phase, while the Public Prosecutor continues with the corresponding procedures in this case.
