Ricardo Martinelli.
Credit: MAURICIO VALENZUELA / AFP via Getty Images
(CNN Spanish) -
The 99 supermarkets, owned by the former president of Panama Ricardo Martinelli, suspended the marketing of the products of the family business of the former president Juan Carlos Varela, with whose brother he had a violent altercation on Monday when leaving a court.
Martinelli himself, who ruled Panama from 2009 to 2014, published a video on Monday in which the withdrawal of the liquors of the Varela Hermanos company, as well as other Nacional Química products, from the shelves of their businesses is observed.
CNN asked Martinelli for comments on the events, but his spokesperson referred us to the former president's social networks.
Although it was requested, there is no statement yet from the supermarket chain.
The lawyer for the Martinelli family, Alma Cortés told CNN that "it is a business decision, that the withdrawal of the products from the supermarkets is maintained and that the commercial relationship is terminated, to which the company is entitled."
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The decision came shortly after Martinelli and José Luis Varela, brother of former President Juan Carlos Varela, exchanged insults outside the courtroom where Martinelli's second trial for alleged illegal wiretapping is taking place.
José Luis Varela testified at the trial as an alleged victim of the political espionage allegedly ordered by Martinelli during his tenure.
"Today I punched Popi Varela in the face," Martinelli wrote shortly after on his Twitter account.
For his part, José Luis Varela said through a tweet: "This afternoon (Monday) I filed a complaint against the accused Ricardo Martinelli B for the unfortunate events that occurred."
Although it is not clear if there was physical aggression, because the events occurred in a place to which the media is not allowed access, outside the facilities of the Accusatory Penal System there were verbal aggressions.
Regarding the withdrawal of products from the Varela family business from Martinelli's supermarkets, José Luis Varela told CNN: "It is a company issue. I am a minority partner and they will have their communication with me."
Ricardo Martinelli acquitted of all charges in the case of alleged illegal wiretapping
So far, although it has been requested on several occasions, we have not obtained a reaction from the company.
It is the second time Martinelli has faced trial for alleged wiretapping.
He was previously found not guilty, but a court overturned the trial and ordered it to be held again.
Martinelli has always pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
Ricardo Martinelli
