Panama court upholds ex-President Martinelli's decade-long prison sentence

Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli is escorted by police officers and supporters while leaving a courthouse after being declared not guilty of spying charges in Panama City, Panama August 9, 2019. Martinelli's cap reads, "I survived Varela", referring to Panama's former president Juan Carlos Varela. REUTERS/Erick Marciscano/File Photo

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - A Panama court on Tuesday upheld a 128-month prison sentence for money laundering against former President Ricardo Martinelli, the frontrunner in the Central American country's presidential election next year.

The Superior Court for Settlement of Criminal Cases on Tuesday also upheld a $19.2 million fine Martinelli had been ordered to pay.