Judge Baloisa Marquínez, of the Second Criminal Case Settlement Court, flatly rejected a request from the defense of former President Ricardo Martinelli, in seeking electoral criminal jurisdiction.

According to a statement from the Judicial Branch, the document invoking electoral criminal jurisdiction was presented by Alejandro Pérez Saldaña in favor of the former president.

Martinelli is being investigated for the alleged commission of a crime against the economic order in the form of money laundering, in the so-called New Business case.

In addition, the ruling is based on the decisions issued by the Third Administrative Electoral Court and that of the plenary session of the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal.

Marquínez highlighted in her writing that there is already a firm and enforceable pronouncement by the electoral administrative authorities.