A federal judge Wednesday agreed to delay granting bail to former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli as U.S. authorities seek to keep him in a federal lockup while he fights extradition.
Martinelli, 65, faces criminal charges in Panama related to his time as president. He was arrested on June 12 in Florida, and in August a federal magistrate judge granted an order certifying his extradition back to Panama where he faces charges that include embezzlement.
The graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville filed a motion in September in U.S. District Court in Miami, continuing his legal battle against extradition. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke on Tuesday granted Martinelli's request to be released on bail, requiring a $1 million cash deposit and setting terms for home confinement. She cited his deteriorating health as a factor in her decision.
U.S. authorities on Tuesday requested that Cooke stay her order while they appeal her decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Wednesday, Cooke wrote in a court order that "the factors weigh in favor of a stay," including "a likelihood of success on appeal" given earlier decisions to deny Martinelli's request for release on bail.
Metro on 02/15/2018