The Superior Court of Appeals of the First Judicial District has annulled, the “not guilty “ ruling handed down to former president Ricardo Martinelli accused of illegal interception of communications in the second and third year of his mandate. 

Two of the magistrates, Donaji Arosemena and Yiles Pittí, accepted an appeal for annulment promoted by the Public Ministry, in which a new trial for Martinelli was requested. The other magistrate, Diego Fernández, saved his vote. 

Now a new trial will be required, with new judges, to establish responsibilities for the alleged commission of two crimes: the inviolability of secrecy (interception of communications without judicial authorization) and violation of the right to privacy (illegal monitoring and prosecution). 

The reading of the sentence took place after 5:00 pm this Friday, two hours after starting the virtual hearing, held at the offices of the First Judicial District of Panama, located in Plaza Ágora.

It is unknown when the new trial will take place, except that the three judges from the previous process will not act there.