Jun.28, 2010

Noriega, former dictator of Panama, was held in Paris for money laundering. After twenty years in American prisons, Noriega, 76, from appearing in court on Monday for French money in France of some 2.3 million euros from trafficking in drugs, a crime that could cost him up to 10 years in prison.

This is the sentence which had been convicted once, in July 1999, the former strongman of Panama, tried in absentia by the Criminal Court of Paris. Wife of ex-dictator of Panama was sentenced to the same penalty. The court, which had followed the prosecution, was also condemned General Noriega and his wife to astronomical fines, so that customs misdemeanor. The Republic of Panama will be present again on the bench for private parties Monday.

Nut since 1990 for drug trafficking in Miami (Florida), Manuel Noriega was extradited April 26 U.S. to France. Immediately upon French soil, he made opposition to the ruling in 1999, an option which allows any defendant convicted in his absence of being retried at trial.

The French justice he is alleged to have laundered in France 15 million francs (2.3 million euros), which come from the cartel in Medellin (Colombia), via the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), closed in July 1991 for international fraud.

The former army chief of Panama contends that these funds come from the legacy of his brother, his wife’s fortune and payments from the CIA. He believes that the charges against him are based on false statements by witnesses gathered by the U.S. authorities. The trial is scheduled to end Wednesday evening. The decision should be taken under advisement in the fall.