On Friday, the Odebrecht trial failed to close the evidentiary phase or move to final arguments, as scheduled in the judicial calendar. The session ended early after a key witness failed to appear, whose testimony was requested by several defense teams. This forced the tribunal to suspend the hearing and reschedule the continuation of the process. Judge Baloisa Marquínez set the new date to resume the trial for February 23, 2026, and, if no new complications arise, begin the final arguments phase. This phase is crucial, as it will allow the Public Ministry and the defense teams to present their conclusions before the tribunal deliberates and issues a verdict. The process, one of the most extensive and complex concerning alleged money laundering linked to the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, involves former officials and businessmen accused of irregular payments related to public works contracts in Panama. With this Friday's postponement, the trial adds another episode of interruption in a case that has been marked by suspensions, evidentiary debates, and requests for adjournment.
