Written by Alma Solis and Manuel Rueda
Associated Press
PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) — Panamanian former president convicted of money laundering defies intention to run in next presidential election despite potentially being barred from holding public office is declared. Ricardo Martinelli was officially announced as the candidate of the Realization Party at a rally in Panama City on Saturday. In his speech, he said he had committed no crime and accused authorities of persecuting him ahead of the May 5 general election. In July, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering. Panama’s constitution prohibits anyone convicted of a crime who has been sentenced to five years or more in prison from running for office. The country’s electoral court will now have to decide whether Martinelli is eligible to run.
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