Panama’s Former Dictator Returns Home After 22 years

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega returns

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega arrived Sunday evening in his home country, after nearly 22 years after U.S. forces forcibly removed him from his office. The 77-year old dictator would go immediately to prison to serve for crimes committed during his rule.

Noriega will be flown into an individual cell in El Renacer, a medium-security facility in Gamboa. The former dictator arrived at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. Noriega’s extradition began Sunday morning after flying from Paris to Madrid. Noriega had lived in France since 2010, two decades after been released from an American Prison. He was in Spanish police custody before leaving for his home country.

Last year, a French court sentenced Noriega to seven years in prison for laundering 2,3 million euros. He was ordered to pay the money back, however Noriega denied the charges. The Panamanian Interior Minister, Roxana Mendez added that Noriega will receive the same treatment as the rest of inmates in the Panamanian prison.  (AV)