Gonzalez defiant of US justice

PANAMA. The former legislator and ex-president of the National Assembly, Pedro Miguel Gonzalez said that he is not running from the US justice and everybody knows where he is.

In an interview given to La Estrella de Panama, Gonzalez said that he believes that he has been the victim of an unjust persecution, because he had already being through a trial in Panama for the murder of the American soldier Zach Hernandez, in which he was acquitted.

“That trial was recognized by the United States and representatives of the American army and the embassy as well as the State Department were present during the process,” said Gonzalez.

“They even hired a private prosecutor and had the opportunity to present all the evidence to help their case, for that reason I consider that it is unjust for them to try to judge me again in the United States. There is the universal law principle of double jeopardy and a person cannot be judged twice for the same crime,

“Many had questioned the legality of the Panamanian process, but once the result was given critics said that it was politically tainted. However no one has presented a evidence to demonstrate that the trial was arranged, “ added Gonzalez.

“I think is an act of arrogance and patronizing behavior to fail to recognize a legitimate legal verdict from the Panamanian Tribunal. “The United States decision to put me on trial is more political than legal. If I was found guilty they would have closed the process,” he said.