Trinidad y Tobago: autorizan la extradición de legislador acusado de corrupción en la FIFA
Trinidad attorney general signs authority to proceed in Warner extradition case
Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has belatedly signed off on the US request for the extradition of former FIFA vice president Jack Warner to face multiple charges of racketeering, corruption and money laundering in New York.
This was announced on Monday morning when Warner reappeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court and lawyer, Fyard Hosein SC pointed out that Al-Rawi had missed last Wednesday’s deadline for doing so.
Although Hosein acknowledged that Al-Rawi had asked Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers Caesar for an extension of the deadline until Monday, no ruling had been given and, as a result, Hosein claimed that his client was entitled to be automatically discharged.
Lead counsel for the government, James Lewis QC, submitted that such a move would be strictly academic as Warner would be immediately re-arrested pending a renewed application by the US.
Lewis argued Warner should have applied to be discharged immediately upon the expiration of the deadline last week, which has now been rendered moot by the attorney general signing the authority to proceed in the case.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington presided over the hearing in the absence of Ayers Caesar and adjourned the case to Friday when he will hand down his ruling.