Panama City, September 28 (RHC-teleSUR) -- Panama has submitted  a formal request with the U.S. Department of State for the extradition of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli to face Panamanian justice, the country’s foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Martinelli, 64, was in office from 2009 to 2014 and has been accused of a number of offenses, including corruption, insider trading, and using public funds to illegally spy on at least 150 opponents and journalists.

Panama’s Supreme Court ordered Martinelli’s arrest in December after he failed to show up to a Panamanian court for a hearing on his case.

He fled Panama in January 2015 and is currently living in Miami, where he made a request for political asylum in the U.S.

Martinelli has denied any wrongdoing. The Panamanian Foreign Ministry said that there was no time-frame for Martinelli’s potential return because U.S. authorities would still need to analyze the extradition request.