Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli has gone on trial via video link from Colombia on money-laundering charges tied to the Odebrecht/Novonor bribery scandal. Prosecutors say Odebrecht paid $59 million during his 2009–2014 term to win major public works contracts in Panama. Martinelli denies the allegations and faces a possible 12-year sentence if convicted in absentia, while other figures — including ex-president Juan Carlos Varela and two of Martinelli's sons — are also accused in related proceedings.
Former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli Goes On Trial Over Odebrecht Bribery Allegations
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli faces a prison sentence of 12 years if convicted of laundering millions in bribes paid by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht (MARTIN BERNETTI)(MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/AFP)
Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli went on trial on Monday in Panama City on money-laundering charges tied to the vast Odebrecht corruption scandal that has implicated officials across Latin America.
Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht — now operating as Novonor — has admitted paying hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit payments across the region to secure major public works contracts between 2001 and 2016. Prosecutors say the company paid $59 million (about 50 million euros) during Martinelli’s 2009–2014 administration to obtain contracts for Panama City’s metro, the capital’s coastal expressway and expansion works at the country’s international airport.
Martinelli, 73, attended the hearing by video link from Colombia, where he sought asylum last year. He has denied wrongdoing.
"I am innocent, I am not responsible," the former president said during the hearing.
Prosecutors argue that, even if funds were not traced directly to Martinelli’s personal accounts, he was the ultimate beneficiary and had "full knowledge of the illicit origin" of the payments. His lawyer, Carlos Carrillo, has described the proceedings as politically motivated:
"This case is entirely political," Carrillo told AFP.
Martinelli faces up to a 12-year prison term if convicted in absentia. Another former president, Juan Carlos Varela, and two of Martinelli’s sons are also accused in the probe; their cases will be heard later by Panama’s Supreme Court.
Martinelli previously fled to Colombia to avoid arrest in a separate money-laundering case, in which he was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison. The broader investigation — linked in public discourse to the 2014 "Car Wash" revelations — has resulted in convictions of high-profile figures across Peru, Argentina, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela.
Why This Case Matters
The trial is a high-profile continuation of a multi-country effort to hold politicians and businesses accountable for systemic bribery that reshaped infrastructure contracting across Latin America. Observers say the outcome will influence how regional courts address transnational corruption and the accountability of former heads of state.
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