US bans previous president of Panama in excess of 'significant corruption'

US bans previous president of Panama in excess of 'significant corruption' [ad_1]

Secretary of Condition Antony Blinken declared a ban on the entry of the previous president of Panama and his rapid household into the U.S., accusing them of "involvement in important corruption."

In the announcement, Blinken accused Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal, president of Panama from 2009-2014, of accepting bribes in trade for awarding authorities contracts.

PANAMA International MINISTER WARNS sixty,000 HAITIANS ARE HEADING TO US BORDER

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Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli, next from suitable, talks with previous administrator of the Panama Canal, Alberto Aleman Zubieta, suitable, as Canal Affairs Minister Roberto Roy, next from remaining, and recently created Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano, remaining driving, appear on ahead of the inaugural ceremony for Quijano in Panama Town, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012. (AP Photograph/Arnulfo Franco)

Arnulfo Franco/AP

"Accepting bribes for authorities contracts undermines the integrity of Panama’s democratic establishments and fuels perceptions of corruption and impunity. These kinds of functions of community corruption diminish self-confidence in governance and lessen assets obtainable for faculties, hospitals, roadways, and other authorities companies," Blinken wrote.

The point out secretary went on to make a broader place that the U.S. is fully commited to battling corruption close to the world.

"These designations reaffirm the determination of the United States to battle corruption, which harms the community desire, hampers countries’ financial prosperity, and curtails the capability of governments to answer efficiently to the wants of their folks," Blinken wrote.

"The United States carries on to stand with all Panamanians in help of democracy and the rule of legislation, and will keep on to encourage accountability for individuals who abuse community energy for private achieve, irrespective of their place or political affiliation," he concluded.

The vacation ban isn't really the initially time Martinelli has operate afoul of U.S. legislation. He was arrested in Florida in 2017 on expenses of unlawful wiretapping and embezzlement. He was extradited to Panama a 12 months later on, and he was acquitted there in 2019.

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