(prensa.com) Prosecutor Ramsés Barrera yesterday said that, if Panama is successful in extraditing former dictator Manuel Noriega from France, he will be immediately face criminal charges related to his activities while in power.Noriega is serving a sentence for money laundering in France, but could be released later this year. If so, he will likely be returned to Panama, where he faces prosecution on a number of outstanding criminal charges, including murder. That means he will likely be immeidately arrested upon his return.
Barrera said that the Órgano Judicial is already preparing for Noriega’s return to Panama. It has requested information about any “pending criminal charges” against the former dictator.
Noriega was sentenced to seven years in prison in France in July 2010, but is expected to be released early for good behavior and time served. Panama has also filed a request for extradition with French authorities.
Sunday, Vice President Juan Carlos Varela said that the extradition request has advanced, and that the former dictator will reach Panama “soon.”