POLICE  swooped on the officesof  Importadora Ricamar, the hub of the 99  retail empire of the family of former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014), on Tuesday July 5.

Anti-corruption   Prosecutor Abel Zamorano ordered the inspection of the offices as part of the research into the Cobranzas del Istmo case.

Police officers stood on guard outside the offices, located in Monte Oscuro. The firm is the parent company of the Super 99 supermarket chain.

[caption id="attachment_62060" align="alignleft" width="237"] Marta Martinelli[/caption]

The inspection was confirmed by former First Lady Marta Martinelli, who was parachuted in by her husband as a vice presidential candidate  in 2014.

"If they are conducting an inspection, why are they preventing employees from entering the building? It's as if they are looking for a drug trafficker," she said.

In a statement issued through the Twitter account @ super99_panama, the company urged the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agricultures "and other business and trade organizations to speak out about the respect of the exercise of free enterprise."

Sidney Sitton, a Martinelli lawyer  said on his arrival in Monte Oscuro that Cobranzas accounts in Multibank Isthmus fed "many of the politicians who are in power today."

In May 2015, prosecutors filed charges against Cobranzas del Istmo officials for irregularities related to a contract it received from the state to collect delinquent taxes.

Martinelli is linked to the case because the majority shareholder of Cobranzas del Istmo, Cristóbal Salerno, said he delivered bags of cash to the Ricamar offices in exchange for the contract.

The case against Martinelli was admitted by the plenum of the Supreme Court in September 2015. In February, the court rejected a petition by defense lawyers to dismiss the charges.

A Red Interpol Alert  has been issued for the arrest of the ex-president to face trial over the wiretapping  of political opponents, journalists, judges and  businessmen. He is also facing numerous other investigations.