In Palma, authorities pursue an ongoing case involving Ricardo Martinelli, the former Panamanian president, accused of directing a group of civilian guards who monitored his ex partner on the island of Mallorca for weeks. After a year of failed attempts to locate Martinelli and summon him to testify, prosecutors have filed for provisional prosecution, setting the stage for a continuation of the case against four agents and the group’s ringleader. The political figure remains focused on building momentum for the 2024 presidential race in Panama as this legal process moves forward.
The inquiry began with Court No. 2 in Palma, and in March 2022 it named Martinelli, the four Civil Guard agents, the leader of the unit, and five additional individuals as defendants in a case charging criminal organization, disclosure of secrets, and harassment. At that time, Martinelli’s whereabouts were not confirmed, complicating efforts to report the charges. The matter was later assigned to a court for violence against women due to the relationship between the accused and the complainant. Despite the court’s attention, investigators struggled to establish an address to serve the charges against the former president.
Roughly a year later, prosecutors moved to advance the case, seeking a temporary archiving of proceedings against Martinelli while preserving the possibility of resuming action. The decision would transfer back to the examining court to determine whether the other defendants should stand trial while Martinelli’s status remains unresolved.
Internal affairs inquiries within the Civil Guard uncovered that the implicated agents conducted extensive surveillance of the politician’s former partner on the island during the summer of 2020. The guards reportedly operated as a kind of informal security unit, sharing every movement of the woman with Martinelli via WhatsApp, pinpointing her location within minutes, and circulating photographs from their monitoring. The victim indicated that her mobile device had been tapped using Pegasus, adding another layer of concern to the case. The unfolding testimony and the evolving legal strategy continue to shape the timeline of proceedings as authorities seek clarity on accountability for the alleged actions and the roles of all involved parties. (Source: contemporary reports from Panamanian judicial observers and regional press)