Ex-president Ricardo Martinelli who is still battling to be allowed to run for mayor of Panama City and as a deputy for the National Assembly, played his latest health card on Monday, April 22 at the resumption of his illegal wiretapping trial..Earlier in the day he was examined in  Santo Tomás  Hospital, where he was accompanied by police escorts and told waiting for journalists from newspapers he controls, that he was “kidnapped”, being held hostage and is rights were abused

After his examination, he was taken ”to the courtroom of the First Judicial District, where he presented a letter signed by Dr. Gaspar Arenasa asking that he be excused from appearing in court one day each week.