Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli holds a dog at his home in Panama City, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. A Panamanian court ordered that former President Martinelli to be transferred from jail to house arrest. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
The Associated Press
PANAMA CITY (AP) - Former President Ricardo Martinelli was released to house arrest on Wednesday from jail, where he had been held since his extradition from the United States on accusations of political espionage during his administration.
Clad in jeans and a blue shirt, and holding a small dog, Martinelli was seen waving to reporters and talking with security agents outside the door of his home in Panama City in the morning.
Martinelli's defense had requested that he be freed on the grounds that Panamanian law says preventive detention cannot exceed one year.
The country's judicial branch said via Twitter that the court overseeing the case has ordered "the cessation of the provisional detention of the ex-president of the Republic due to the one-year term being complete and imposes the measure of house arrest."
Martinelli, 67, was extradited from Miami to Panama on June 11 of last year to face trial. Since then, he had been held at El Renancer prison and shuttled to court hearings under heavy police guard.
He is charged with spying on the communications of at least 150 people and the purchase of equipment to carry out the intercepts during his 2009-2014 administration. Martinelli has said he is innocent.
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli waves to journalist at his home, after his release from jail in Panama City, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. A Panamanian court ordered that former President Martinelli to be transferred from jail to house arrest. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
The Associated Press
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, right, shake talks with security agentes at his home, after being released from jail in Panama City, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. A Panamanian court ordered that former President Martinelli to be transferred from jail to house arrest. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
The Associated Press
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli , center, shake hands with security agentes at his home, after being released from jail in Panama City, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. A Panamanian court ordered that former President Martinelli to be transferred from jail to house arrest. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2018 file photo, Panama's former President President Ricardo Martinelli answers journalists questions as he raises his handcuffed hands, holding a book, while escorted by police to a hearing at the Supreme Court in Panama City. A Panamanian court has ordered on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, that former President Martinelli to be transferred from jail to house arrest. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco, File)
The Associated Press