(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Panama's Supreme Court has authorized an investigation of former president Ricardo Martinelli for alleged corruption while in office from 2009 to 2014.
The court on Thursday ordered the probe to proceed after the country's electoral tribunal earlier this month lifted Martinelli's immunity from prosecution.
Currently a member of the Central American parliament, Martinelli is accused of a scheme in which $45 million dollars were skimmed from inflated contracts to supply the country's schools with dehydrated food.
Two jailed directors of the national aid program that financed the purchases have alleged that Martinelli forced them to sign the contracts.
Several former ministers and officials have been arrested or are under investigation for alleged corruption and illicit enrichment in the case.
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