Mr. Martinelli’s office issued a statement saying that the former president had requested political asylum in the United States. “The United States is a democracy where laws and the rights of citizens are respected,” the statement said. The government of Panama sent a request to the United States in September for Mr. Martinelli’s return. The government of his successor, Juan Carlos Varela, began the investigation and in late 2015 ordered Mr. Martinelli’s arrest. During Mr. Martinelli’s tenure, well-connected individuals in Panama received about $59 million in bribes from Odebrecht, according to United States officials.

Source: New York Times June 13, 2017 04:07 UTC