Supreme Court Exonerates Panama's Solicitor General

By JOSÉ OTERO for La Prensa - Panama's Supreme Court, in full session, exonerated Panama's Solicitor General of the Nation, Ana Matilde Gómez, of any responsibility in the case of supposed illegalities committed during the deportation process of Colombian David Murcia Guzman after his capture in Panama in November 2008. The decision of the full session of the Supreme Court responded to a demand interposed by Murcia. The decision was unanimous with the exception of magistrate Jerónimo Mejía who did not vote, and indicates that Gómez did not intervene to restrict Murcia's freedom, who was arrested at the request of Colombia. (See Comments)

Editor's Comment: In reality, the arrest and extradition of David Murcia was probably very illegal, if you strictly interpret Panamanian law. From what I understand there is no extradition treaty or agreement between Panama and Colombia for financial crimes. Interestingly enough, there are provisions to extradite drug traffickers but not murderers, for example. No matter, really, because a treaty is just a standing agreement between two countries to standardize a process, and of course the two governments can decided to do practically whatever they want when it comes right down to it. I mean, Murcia is a Colombian citizen so therefore Panama basically just pitched him back over the fence. He had no chance of winning any kind of a suit like this, no matter what the technicalities of law dictate.

VÍA RÁPIDA

Corte exonera de responsabilidad a procuradora Gómez

CASO MURCIA. El pleno de la Corte Suprema exoneró de responsabilidad a la procuradora de la Nación, Ana Matilde Gómez, en un caso de supuestas ilegalidades cometidas en el proceso de deportación de David Murcia G. tras su captura en Panamá, en noviembre de 2008. La decisión del pleno responde a una demanda interpuesta por Murcia. El fallo, con salvamento de voto del magistrado Jerónimo Mejía, indica que Gómez no intervino para restringir la libertad de Murcia y que se le detuvo a pedido de Colombia.

JOSÉ OTERO