The French extradited Manuel Noriega back to Panama where he ruled for 17 years. He was convicted during his imprisonment overseas of murdering two political opponents, but it looks like he’ll get to serve his sentence at home;
He was sentenced to 20 years in each case, and Panamanian officials say he will be sent straight to a jail cell when he lands. The ex-general, whose pockmarked face earned him the nickname “Pineapple Face,” could eventually leave prison under a law allowing prisoners over 70 to serve out their time under house arrest.
He’s got some yard work to do, though. I was at his house a few years back and it’s pretty well overgrown.
Even though Panama still has the death penalty, you can be sure that the French wouldn’t have let him return without an agreement from the Panamanian government that he wouldn’t face the death penalty.
When I read this, I thought, “Wait. Noriega got a big time sentence of 30 or 40 years. What’s he doing in Paree?” The answer is that his US sentence of 30 years was reduced for good behavior. Now, if that’s not rich I don’t know what is. Noriega enjoyed all of the creature comforts in his private lodging during his stay here. How he would not have assembled a record of good behavior is beyond me. What was he going to do, attack a guard b/c his big screen tv malfunctioned?
Maybe the French only use that prohibition against the death penalty for U.S. extradition requests?
Or maybe the frogs (Political Correctness Violation Alert!) figure that housing Pineapple Face costs too much, what with all of that wine every meal.
I live in Panama. Panama does not have the death penalty. I identified and assisted in the capture of a serial killer from Spain who murdered a friend among others. The maximum sentence for murder is 35 years per count.
Noriega was considered a POW in the US.
@5. Yeah, that’s technically true, so the Red Cross made sure his Big Screen was working properly. Who the hell ever heard of a POW who gets time off for good behavior?
@4. Panama does not have the death penalty? Tell that to a referee at a soccer game.