The brothers Luis Enrique and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares, the sons of former president Ricardo Martinelli are in preventive detention in a Guatemala military prison awaiting an appearance   before two different judges, after being arrested on Monday, July 6, at La Aurora International Airport.

The defense has asked that both brothers serve preventive detention in the same compound and that they be given isolation against COVID-19.

They were, arrested Monday and taken to court this Tuesday, to begin the process of their extradition to the United States, where they are wanted for an alleged conspiracy to launder money.

Luis Enrique's lawyer claimed his client's immunity, but was informed that this would be discussed with judges in charge of the court; Only substitute judges acted on  Tuesday.

No dates have been set for new hearings and they must remain in a prison. As there are several judges suspended in the Fifth Court, the Luis Enrique case could take longer.

If the courts consider that the extradition request complies with the requirements set forth in the bilateral treaty between the US and Guatemala, , delivery to the country is granted.

The US  has a period of between 40 to 90 days to formalize its request and send a copy of all the documents that link the Martinelli Linares with the reported events. The extradition request was communicated on July 3.

At the conclusion of the hearing it was learned that they will be sent to an isolated area of ​​the Mariscal Zavala military prison, which is inside a barracks that also hols Guatemalan politicians who have been identified in corruption cases, such as former President Otto Pérez Molina and several of the ministers of your government.

Both upon and leaving the courtroom, Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique were handcuffed and escorted by agents.  They left in silence, without making statements to waiting journalists.

The brothers were arrested a, when they were preparing to board a private plane belonging to their father bound for Panama. Guatemala does not know when and how they entered the country, but authorities have said that there has been a "follow-up and surveillance" operation since June 30.

According to the indictment filed by  FBI Special Agent Michael Lewandowski with the Eastern District Court of New York, Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique reportedly participated as "intermediaries" in bribery payments of $28 million, " under the leadership of Odebrecht ”. The monies would have benefited a Panamanian public servant, whose name is not listed at the moment in the US indictment, but who is described as "an officer with a very high position in the Panamanian government and a  close relative” of the two accused. between 2009 and 2014”  - a period corresponding to the  presidential mandate of  Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal

Panama America, the Martinelli owned  newspaper whose acquisition is the subject of a criminal investigation, gave a sanitized report of the court appearance with no details of the FBI probe.