Asylum Granted: Ex-Panama President Ricardo Martinelli Now in Colombia

Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli recently found refuge in Colombia after being granted asylum, following a year of residing in the Nicaraguan embassy to escape his sentence for money laundering.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday that it had granted asylum to Ricardo Martinelli, the ex-president of Panama who spent over a year in the Nicaraguan embassy in Panama City to avoid serving a prison sentence for money-laundering charges. The ministry stated that arrangements were made for Mr. Martinelli, 73, to travel via diplomatic car from the embassy to a local airport for his flight to Bogotá.

Martinelli, who served as Panama’s president from 2009 to 2014, took to social media on Saturday to announce his arrival in Colombia, describing his new status as a political refugee. His asylum comes after a 2023 conviction for money laundering linked to funds illegally obtained from government contractors during his presidency, specifically for the acquisition of a publishing house. The conviction was upheld by Panama’s Supreme Court, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence and a $19 million fine.

Claiming the charges against him were politically motivated, Martinelli had been residing in the Nicaraguan embassy, accompanied by his dog, Bruno, and some furnishings, while plotting a campaign for the upcoming May 2024 presidential elections. However, just two months prior to the elections, Panama's electoral tribunal disqualified him due to his legal troubles, forcing his running mate, José Raúl Mulino, to assume candidacy. Mulino later achieved a decisive victory in the elections, with Martinelli supporting his efforts from the embassy.

Mike Ives, a reporter based in Seoul, contributes to global breaking news coverage for The Times.