Reprieve for Jack Warner in U.S. extradition request

Former CONCACAF head and FIFA VP Jack Warner has won a tentative reprieve following a favorable ruling in the extradition request for him to face fraud charges in the U.S. A High Court in Trinidad ruled to allow him to challenge the extradition, putting the current proceeding on hold.

Warner’s representation successfully argued that there were some discrepancies between the Trinidad and Tobago’s Extradition act and the country’s extradition treaty with the U.S. In addition, his defense argued, Warner’s legal representatives were prevented from making a presentation on the issue to the Attorney General. The court, however, ruled against Warner’s claims of apparent bias by the Attorney General, due to lack of evidence.

Warner’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, has 14 days – until February 5 – to file their claim. The State will then also have 14 days to respond. The case has been adjourned until February 26.

Warner is accused of 29 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. The charges claim Warner began using his executive position for financial gain as early as the 1990s. Among the charges is accepting a US$10 million bribe from South African officials in return for his vote for their claim to host the 2010 World Cup. He was among the nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives that were indicted last May.