Herrera says justice system "is serving the president"

Partido Revolucionario Democrático (PRD) leader Balbina Herrera said today that the justice system is "serving President Ricardo Martinelli." The statement came a day after she was ordered held under "country arrest" during an investigation into her actions revolving around the president and e-mails linking him to an Italian businessman accused of attempted bribery. "Things in the country are worse," Herrera said. Herrera is being investigated for the disclosure of e-mails between President Martinelli and Italian businessman Valter Lavítola regarding the payment of bribes to Panamanian officials for a contract to buil modular prisons. Herrera said she will not be intimidated by the court's decision. Herrera said that the justice system has failed to properly investigate Martinelli for allegedly demanding the bribes, and that officials failed to interview relevant parties. Herrera added that four people have already been implicated in the case in Italy, and that all the e-mails she is accused of leaking are in the criminal files in Italy.