MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega will be released from prison on September 9 and hopes to immediately board a plane for Panama, his attorney said.
Noriega's eight-year rule over Panama ended after the United States invaded Panama on December 20, 1989, to force him from power. He is being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
Noriega was sentenced to a 30-year term for protecting Colombian cocaine shipments through Panama in the 1980s, but received deductions in his sentence for good behavior.
Noriega, 70, had parole hearings in 2002 and 2004 to try to cut short his 30-year sentence. He was not recommended for parole either time.
Rubino said his client plans to waive any deportation hearings and try to board a plane back to Panama the day he is released from prison.
"He wants to go back to Panama and he wants to enjoy his grandchildren in quiet retirement," Rubino said.
Noriega has received two 20-year sentences in Panama for the killings of dissident leader Hugo Spadafora, but Rubino said Noriega will fight the charges.
"When he goes back to Panama, that case will be able to be reopened. Then he'll be able to adequately defend himself on that case," Rubino said.
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Now if we could do that with Noriega, why didn't we do that with Saddam? Or Hugo for that matter...
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