FORMER SUPREME COURT Justice Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño has  added  her voice to the growing chorus of condemnation of scandal laden ex-president Ricardo Martinelli for the  the illegal wiretaps ordered during his administration.

Arosemena de Troitiño - elected last June as a member of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR), said that the interception of personal communications without judicial authorization is a clear violation of human rights reports La Prensa.

She said that when this violation is performed by an authority, in this case former President Martinelli, the behavior is compounded because it is outside the limits of power imposed by the Constitution.

The commissioner said that the allegations that Martinelli organized the wiretaps represents a serious crime "that has to be investigated until the ultimate consequences."

Carlos Lee, of the Citizen's Alliance for Justice, noted that telephone eavesdropping is "one of the most serious human rights violations."

Martinelli has been investigated by  Supreme Court Justice Harry Díaz, who recommended the former president be called to trial for the surveillance program he allegedly authorized. He is accused of offenses against public administration and the right to privacy.

‘VIOLATION DESERVES PUNISHMENT'
Leaders of organized civil society, experts in the field of human rights and victims have asked that Martinelli be punished with a prison term. He faces up to 21 years in jail for the offenses he is charged with, which have been characterized as offenses against fundamental rights and international laws.

"This is a violation that must be punished," said Maribel Jaén, of the Commission of Justice and She  said that the former president must be brought to justice. He fled the country in January and his whereabouts are currently said to be  unknown.

Roberto Troncoso, an expert on the subject of human rights, said that Martinelli should answer for the crimes of which he is accused, since he committed them knowing they were illegal.