In brief
Martinelli had spent over a year in the Nicaraguan embassy before obtaining asylum.
Colombia has officially granted asylum to Ricardo Martinelli, the former president of Panama, after he was holed up in the Nicaraguan embassy for over a year to escape a prison sentence stemming from a money laundering conviction. The Colombian Foreign Ministry announced the decision, facilitating Martinelli's transportation from the embassy to an airport for his flight to Bogotá. At 73, Martinelli served as Panama's president from 2009 to 2014 and claimed his legal troubles were politically motivated. He was convicted in 2023 for money laundering related to a government contract, receiving a 10-year prison sentence and a hefty fine. Despite this, he attempted to maintain his political ambitions from the embassy, even aiming for candidacy in Panama's 2024 elections, but was ultimately disqualified. His former running mate, José Raúl Mulino, who capitalized on Martinelli’s presidency to win the elections, now leads Panama.
