The judicial review action filed by former politician and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) vice-president Jack Warner against the legality of the procedure to extradite him to the United States has been dismissed.
Justice James Aboud, presiding at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain yesterday, dismissed the action, even though saying Warner’s attorneys had made some valid points, including the argument that the extradition treaty signed between this country and the United States did not conform with local extradition laws.
Given the non-conformity, Warner’s attorneys, led by Fyard Hosein, SC, had argued during the proceedings that the US order for extradition should be quashed.
But in his ruling, Justice Aboud said even though there was some non-conformity between the treaty and the domestic extradition laws, this was not sufficient to quash the order.
“If strict conformity is required, there would be no state in the world in which we could reciprocate,” said the judge.
Warner is wanted by authorities to answer charges of fraud arising out of a FIFA bribery scandal and yesterday’s ruling means that the extradition proceedings in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court will resume.
That matter was on hold while Warner’s challenge was being heard.
There was agreement however for the stay on the extradition proceedings to remain for 28 days to give Warner time to consider whether he wants to appeal the decision.
Warner is charged with 12 offences related to racketeering, corruption and money laundering allegedly committed in the jurisdiction of the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, dating as far back as 1990.
Warner claims the case against him is politically motivated and accuses the United States of seeking revenge because it lost to Qatar in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
Source: Caribbean News Service