In a unanimous vote, Panama’s Supreme Court rejected attempts by  Ricardo Martinelli  lawyers  to change  his preventive detention in El  Renacer prison to house arrest

The decision was made after evaluating two key points: the health status of the former president and the request of the defense to count the time Martinelli spent in a Miami Federal Prison pending his extradition.

On the first point, Judge Luis Mario Carrasco said, the defense only alluded once to the health status of his client. The plenary analyzed the reports provided by the defense in which the doctors determined that the ex-president could continue his treatment on an outpatient basis.

On the second point if he is found guilty and sentenced “the court will not be indifferent, to commuting commute the time spent in prison awaiting extradition.”

Accused of four charges that accumulate potentially 21 years of prison (inviolability of secrecy, right to privacy, fraud, and embezzlement of public funds), Martinelli spoke at the hearing repeating  three times that he is innocent, and that “this is a  manufactured case”

He appeared in court dressed in jeans,  and red shirt of the national soccer team with the number 11 on the back and sneakers. He held his handcuffed hands above his head in a victory gesture to applause from his supporters inside the courtroom, including family members and several deputies of the Democratic Change party, which he founded.

Six high profile lawyers represented Martinelli. Magistrate Harry Díaz is prosecutor

the Prosecutor's Office objected to the request of the defense. "There are no new circumstances for the change of measure to be admitted," said Díaz.

He reiterated that the prosecution has not opposed the health review of the former president, but recalled that the physicians of Forensic Medicine concluded that the patient's condition is "stable" and that he could continue treatment from jail.

Díaz said he did not know what new circumstances. had been presented. "The defense has turned white rice into a paella, they have touched many issues that do not have to be brought ... It is not the first time the defense tries to make a manipulation or affect the process for a health problem of Mr. Martinelli. (...) We were told prostate cancer and we know now that it is not true and we point out that for humanitarian reasons Mr Martinelli. Will not be denied health care", said Díaz.

He added: "I have to warn Mr. Martinelli if someone has recommended that I can be bought or intimidated, that person is a bad advisor, and I tell you clearly that we are operating under the law and that it is very clear, "said Diaz. "Enough conviction elements have been raised to prosecute the Former President Martinelli, with the investigation that was done, it would have been impossible to present an accusation had it not been for the extraordinary work of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office (...), where clear evidence was received from people whose privacy has been raped," he said.

“I came to recover my name, my reputation and everything I have lost and I will prove my innocence and prove that they have invented unfounded cases because they have slandered me,” said  Martinelli.

Black hand
He added that when he decided to desist from the process in Miami, it was because he wanted to submit to Panamanian justice.

“If all my rights are violated, what can the people expect? What is at stake now is justice …  I will sue all those who have slandered me. I am innocent and I will prove it.”

Martinelli added that there is a "black hand" behind the process that is followed and again assured that "I am innocent, this is an armed process to disable me."