No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchivePanama’s Noriega back in prison after hospital stay

Panama’s Noriega back in prison after hospital stay

PANAMA CITY – Former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega returned to prison Tuesday after weeks in the hospital due to a bout with bronchitis, a government official said.

A one-time CIA informant who was overthrown in a U.S. invasion, Noriega has been in and out of the hospital three times since his return to Panama in December. His latest hospital visit began May 9.

The 78-year-old was released from Santo Tomas Hospital early Tuesday and returned to prison “because his health has stabilized,” said Government Ministry spokeswoman Vielka Vernaza.

Noriega, who has suffered two strokes and has heart disease and a benign brain tumor, is serving three consecutive 20-year sentences for the disappearance of opponents during his years in power, from 1983-1989.

Since February, Noriega’s lawyers have been seeking permission for their client to serve out his prison term in a hospital or under house arrest because of his health problems.

Trending Now

End of Air Canada Strike Brings Relief for Costa Rica-Bound Passengers

Air Canada flight attendants ended their strike Tuesday after reaching a tentative agreement with the airline, paving the way for flights to resume gradually....

Costa Rica Anglers Catch Rare Orange and Albino Nurse Shark

Anglers on a fishing trip off Costa Rica's Caribbean coast caught a nurse shark unlike any seen before: bright orange skin and stark white...

Costa Rica Replaces One-Lane Bridges as Traffic and Population Grow

As the infrastructure of Costa Rica advances, with new four-lane highways and a series of bypasses around San José that avoid the narrow, congested...

Honduras Community Demands Justice in Environmental Murder Case

Three defendants accused of murdering an environmental activist in Honduras 11 months ago appeared before a court this Thursday for a preliminary hearing, the...

Mexico Battles Wildfire Damage with Drone-Based Reforestation

Authorities in the state of Michoacán, in western Mexico, are using drones to scatter seeds from the air in an effort to reforest hundreds...

Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica’s Central Valley

An earthquake shook Costa Rica early Friday morning. The tremor occurred at 12:45 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.4. Its epicenter was located 1...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica