The defense of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli got another setback on Thursday, August 16, when the plenary of Panama's Supreme Court decided not to accept the protection of constitutional guarantees in the process against him for the alleged interceptions of communications during his administration.

The magistrates decided to maintain the competence of the wiretapping case in the Supreme Court despite the repeated request of the defense to send them to the ordinary jurisdiction as the former president resigned his seat. in the Central American Parliament, in June.

The Amparo was presented on July 25, 2018, after the judge of guarantees Jerónimo Mejía refused to annul the process due to an alleged violation of the electoral penalty.

The intermediate heating of the process is scheduled for August 23 when the prosecuting magistrate, Harry Diaz returns from vacation.