WHEN EX- MINISTER of Labor Alma Cortés was  ordered held in preventive detention, her lawyer objected   on health grounds,  a  seemingly  routine  move  in cases involving former high rollers facing corruption investigations.

During her 12 hour interrogation by the Sixth Anti-corruption prosecutor, Aurelio Vásquez  on Thursday, August 11  Cortés was reportedly asked if she had any health problems. After replying that she had none she was sent to the DIJ cells. She is being investigated for  alleged unjust enrichment of $2.5 million while in office

On the morning of Friday August 12 she was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) for a checkup.

She returned  handcuffed  two hours later. She told waiting journalists, that her court case was motivated "by politics and revenge,  the mantra of ex-President Ricardo Martinelli and his CD Party in several dozen corruption  investigations, including his own and members of his family and  inner circle

After further questioning the former minister was returned to the holding cell of the National Police (PN) in Ancon, to fulfill the preventive detention order

Carlos Carrillo, a lawyer  for  Cortes  questioned the performance of  the prosecutor  who he said  refused to let his client receive medical attention and said  there were  two paramedics at the National Police headquarters who could address any concerns.