Panama tribunal lifts ex-president Martinelli’s immunity News
Panama tribunal lifts ex-president Martinelli’s immunity

[JURIST] The Panama Electoral Tribunal [official website, in Spanish] said Wednesday that former president Ricardo Martinelli [JURIST news archive] will no longer be immune from prosecution, which allows investigations of corruption charges from Martinelli’s time in office to begin. The Panama Supreme Court [official website, in Spanish] had requested [AP report] the lifting of immunity after unanimously voting [JURIST report] in January to appoint a special prosecutor and begin the corruption probe. The court will investigate Martinelli for suspected crimes against public administration [Reuters report]. The supermarket magnate allegedly inflated contracts worth millions of dollars to purchase food for a government social program. Martinelli has not been in Panama since the court announced its investigation.

In October Panama officials suspended Alejandro Moncada [JURIST report], a justice of the Supreme Court, over corruption charges and accusations that he profited from his ties with Martinelli. Moncada denied any wrongdoing and also claimed to be a victim of Martinelli’s political foe and successor Varela. Voters elected Martinelli president in May 2009 national elections, which were “considered generally free and fair by independent observers” according to a 2010 US State Department [official website] human rights report [text]. However, local elections have been marred by controversy. Human Rights Everywhere [advocacy website, in Spanish], a non profit organization, described the elections in the Ngobe-Bugle community as “confusing” and ill-timed. Martinelli governed Panama until 2014.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.