Panama ex-president sentenced

Panama's top court rejected former President Ricardo Martinelli’s appeal to annul a nearly 11-year prison sentence, making him ineligible to run for president in the May elections. The court ruled that anyone sentenced to a prison term of five years or more is barred from serving as president. The sentence was due to money laundering involving public funds used to buy a media conglomerate, which granted Martinelli a majority stake. Recent polls showed Martinelli leading the race, and his running mate would become the party's presidential candidate if he is barred. A separate trial for bribe payments during his presidency is scheduled after the May 5 elections. Martinelli, a millionaire businessman turned politician, was president from 2009 to 2014, and faced multiple corruption scandals since leaving office.