Ricardo Martinelli, the former president of Panama, has been granted asylum in Colombia after spending 15 months in the Nicaraguan embassy to avoid serving a prison sentence for money laundering. Martinelli, who governed Panama from 2009 to 2014, was convicted in 2023 for laundering public funds, a sentence that saw him receive nearly 11 years in prison. However, the 73-year-old supermarket tycoon maintains that he is the victim of political persecution, asserting that the charges against him were politically motivated.
Martinelli’s legal troubles stem from accusations that he used embezzled government money to purchase a stake in a publishing house. His case has sparked widespread debate in Panama, with many questioning the fairness of his conviction and whether it was politically influenced.
In early 2024, as arrest warrants loomed, Martinelli took refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City, fearing extradition and arrest. This move came shortly before he was due to face jail time following his conviction. The Panamanian government provided safe passage for Martinelli to leave for Nicaragua, where he remained until the Nicaraguan government ultimately refused to allow him to travel. This was due to the inability of the Panamanian government to guarantee that he would not be subject to an international arrest warrant by Interpol.
In a turn of events, Martinelli made his way to Colombia, where he announced on social media that he was “happy and content” to have arrived in Bogotá. Colombia, after reviewing his case, granted him asylum, and Martinelli now looks to continue his life in exile.
His political career, once promising, was marred by legal challenges. In the 2024 presidential election, he was disqualified despite leading in the polls, replaced by his running mate José Raúl Mulino. Martinelli’s situation has sparked ongoing debate about the intersection of politics and justice in Panama and the broader Latin American region.
