What Happened
Ronny Rodríguez and William Pittí, both under investigation for alleged illegal phone interceptions during the administration of former President Ricardo Martinelli, have filed a motion to nullify the proceedings against them. Their legal team argues that the criminal case was tainted by due process violations.
The motion was submitted shortly after the trial scheduled for April 29 was suspended. It contends that the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office Against Organized Crime exceeded the legal deadline for completing the investigation and did not obtain court authorization to continue working on the case.
What the Defense Argues
According to the filing, the investigation began on July 29, 2014 and the prosecution sent its fiscal review with a request to call the defendants to trial on April 13, 2015. The defense says that timeline went beyond the four-month period established by law.
The motion also argues that prosecutors carried out several investigative steps without the presence of defense counsel, which the defense says violated the right to legal representation.
In addition, the filing maintains that no request for an extension was ever presented to the judge to complete the investigation, making the process void.
Where the Case Stands
The First Liquidating Criminal Court must now forward the motion to the prosecution so it can present its response before the judge issues a ruling. The court has already set a new trial date for May 22 in the case, which includes several complainants who say they were affected by the interceptions.
Rodríguez and Pittí remain in preventive detention at the headquarters of the Judicial Investigation Directorate while the case moves forward. They surrendered to authorities on March 26 after more than 10 years as fugitives.
Background on the Interception Case
The investigation centers on alleged phone and email surveillance carried out against about 150 people, including union leaders, trade groups, politicians and business figures opposed to Martinelli’s government. Prosecutors say the equipment used for the interceptions was kept at the National Security Council offices in Building 150 at Quarry Heights and was under the control of Rodríguez and Pittí.
Martinelli himself was tried in the same case, but a court found him not guilty of the crimes charged. He is now in asylum in Colombia after leaving Panama following his conviction in the New Business case for money laundering.
Why It Matters
The motion adds another layer of legal uncertainty to one of Panama’s most politically sensitive corruption and surveillance cases. A ruling in favor of the defense could reshape the path to trial, while a rejection would keep the proceedings focused on the alleged misuse of state surveillance tools during the Martinelli administration.