Former government minister Jack Warner’s extradition proceedings will not begin until next year.
Warner, who is wanted in the United States for a dozen fraud and corruption charges stemming from his two-decade stint in world football governing body FIFA, reappeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court for a status hearing of the case yesterday.
During the brief hearing, Senior Counsel Pamela Elder, who is representing the US interest in the case, suggested that it be adjourned for an extended period. Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, who held for Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, agreed and defered the case to February 19 next year.
Warner’s reappearance took place two days before the first hearing of his High Court judicial review lawsuit in which he is challenging the extradition proceedings. He is asking the court for an order to quash the extradition based on several procedural issues he felt arose in the handling of the US request for his extradition.
He is also applying for a injunction stopping the proceedings before Ayers-Caesar pending the determination of the case. This application is expected to be determined during the hearing of the case tomorrow morning.
In the lawsuit, Warner is contending that Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi had a discretion to refuse the request as some of the charges he had been accused of by US authorities are not criminal offences in T&T.
He is also complaining of Al-Rawi’s delay in signing off on his extradition. Ayers-Caesar had initially set a deadline of September 16 for Al-Rawi’s predecessor Garvin Nicholas, however, shortly after assuming office he (Al-Rawi) requested an extension. The documents were eventually signed before Ayers-Caesar could decide on his request.
Warner’s legal team includes Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, Rishi Dass and Nyree Alfonso.
Warner’s case
Warner, 72, of Cynthia Drive, Five Rivers, Arouca, is accused of 12 charges related to fraud, racketeering and for engaging in illegal wire transfers. The offences are alleged to have taken place in the United States, T&T and other jurisdictions between 1990 and when Warner quit FIFA in June 2011.
He is one of 14 former executives of world football’s governing body who were indicted on a series of charges after an investigation into corruption in football, conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice.
Warner surrendered to police in May after a provisional warrant was issued for his arrest when US authorities announced the conclusion of their extensive investigation. Warner spent one night on remand at the Port-of-Spain State Prison before he was able to access his $2.5 million bail.
It took US authorities almost their entire 60-day deadline to foward their official request to the Office of the Attorney General, which is needed to prepare the authority to proceed. The documents arrived in T&T in late July.
In 2013, Warner resigned from his post of national security minister and UNC chairman after the publication of a report from Concacaf’s Integrity Committee showed financial mismanagement during his long tenure as the regional body’s president. Warner also resigned as Chaguanas West MP but later regained the seat in a by-election.
He then formed the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) but resigned as its leader after it failed to secure any seats in the September 7 general election.