For the fourth time, Panama’s Judicial Branch agreed to postpone the Odebrecht case trial, involving 26 defendants, until January 12.

Among those facing charges are former presidents Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) – currently in exile in Colombia – and Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019).

In a statement, Judge Baloisa Marquinez explained that she opted to hold the trial on the alternate date because she has been unable to locate and notify former President Martinelli of the hearing.

The court also had not yet received the legal assistance requests from Brazil and Peru, which sought to take statements from several witnesses, the statement added.

In Panama, Odebrecht paid more than $59 million in bribes to former high-ranking officials and intermediaries, according to judicial investigations.

The main crime under investigation is money laundering, which originated from the crimes of embezzlement and corruption of public officials, according to the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

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