What Happened
Prosecutors in Panama presented 39 pieces of evidence to the trial court in the so-called pinhole surveillance case, focusing on the promotions, vacations, and salary increases of former National Security Council intelligence agent Ronny Rodríguez.
The evidence was introduced during the trial of former President Ricardo Martinelli, who faces allegations of illegal interception of communications and surveillance between 2012 and 2014.
Rodríguez’s Rise Through the Security Forces
According to the prosecution, Rodríguez entered the National Security Council as a second lieutenant and left in 2014 holding the rank of subcommissioner in the National Police. Prosecutors also said he sought an early retirement from public service, but that effort was later overturned in an administrative process because he did not meet the requirements.
The timeline of those promotions and benefits unfolded during the first months of Juan Carlos Varela’s presidency, which ran from 2014 to 2019.
William Pittí and the Intelligence Team
Prosecutors also read documents related to the appointments and promotions of William Pittí, another intelligence officer at the National Security Council. Along with Rodríguez, Pittí was described by the prosecution as a key figure in consolidating the surveillance operation.
Fiscal Ricaurte González told journalists that three people remained isolated inside Building 150 of the National Security Council, where access was restricted to the rest of the intelligence team. He said those individuals were the only ones who could explain what took place there. Two of the people he referred to were Rodríguez and Pittí.
Reaction in Court
Martinelli’s defense team did not object to the information read during the hearing. Martinelli, however, again said the trial was “rigged and falsified,” rejecting the proceedings as based on what he called baseless speculation.
Lawyer Carlos Herrera Delegado, representing complainants Mitchell Doens and Balbina Herrera, said the documents showed Rodríguez and Pittí had an extraordinary rise through the police and security structure, unlike anything seen in the history of the Republic of Panama.
What the Evidence May Mean
The hearing also moved into the reading of seven folders containing emails, audio transcripts, photographs, and videos that prosecutors believe came from surveillance activities. The material forms part of a case that has become one of the most closely watched corruption and privacy trials in Panama.
The focus on promotions and administrative decisions adds another layer to the case, linking personnel changes inside the security apparatus to the wider allegations of illegal monitoring during Martinelli’s presidency.