Panama’s last two presidents, RICARDO MARTINELLI and JUAN CARLOS VARELA, have been charged with money laundering, as two separate scandals tarnished the political legacy of the former allies turned enemies.

MARTINELLI was charged with money laundering over the “New Business” case in which a publishing group was allegedly purchased with government funds during his 2009 to 2014 term.

VARELA meanwhile “was charged with money laundering for allegedly accepting illegal donations to his political campaigns from Brazilian construction giant, Odebrecht.

MARTINELLI won the 2009 election with VARELA as his running mate, but their alliance broke down in 2011 when VARELA was sacked as foreign minister.