Panama - Jan 17

The Public Ministry today tapped Oyden Ortega to lead the investigation of ex-Presiden Ricardo Martinelli before the Supreme Court. Since leaving office in 2014, Martinelli has been embroiled in corurption scandals and more recently accusations of phone tapping. This week, two of his top aides were arrested in relation to the latter charge. For his part, Martinelli has denied wrongdoing, attributing the charges to political persecution by the new ruling party. Soon after Ortega was chosen to represent the state against him, Martinelli announced his intention to leave the country. Source: La Prensa