The United States Department of Justice has not yet sent any final requests to the T&T authorities on the Jack Warner extradition request, the US Embassy in T&T stated yesterday.
The Public Affairs division of the US Embassy in T&T made the situation clear yesterday following an Express story that incorrectly claimed the US had sent the request via a “package” to Government’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on the Sunday.
Former Fifa jefe Warner - and 13 other Fifa officials - were indicted last month by the US Justice Department on charges including alleged money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud charges. He is also listed on Interpol’s watchlist in the event he tries to leave the country.
The newspaper claimed “official documentation had been delivered to the Ministry and “sources” said that around midday Sunday the package was dropped off via courier and would “be sent to Central Authority head Netram Kowlessar” yesterday.
However, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran yesterday confirmed that his Ministry had not received any “package” from the US. “Nothing was sent to us,” he said.
Contacted by the Guardian on the issue, the US Embassy shortly after issued a statement saying no final request had been made in the matter and the US is still within the 60-day window specified by the (Mutual Assistance) treaty (between the US and T&T) for the final request to be delivered.
Attorney General Garvin Nicholas also said the Central Authority of the AG’s office had informed him that no extradition request had been received from the US.
Nicholas has said that Government has so far only been asked to facilitate the provisional arrest warrant for Warner and T&T isn’t locked into any obligation with the US to deliver Warner to the US and “there is a procedure that needs to be followed.”
It has been confirmed that the deadline for the 60-day period is July 27, by which date the US’ extradition request must be filed.
The provisional arrest warrant for Warner was executed on May 26 and Warner, out on $2.5m bail, is due to reappear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court again on July 9.
At United National Congress’ St Helena meeting last Friday, UNC deputy leader Roodal Moonilal said Warner wasn’t fighting elections, “he’s fighting extradition, his date isn’t September 7 (general election), it’s July 27 (deadline for the US request).”
There was no response from Warner on the extradition deadline yesterday.
Warner’s Independent Liberal Party intends to hold public meetings in Claxton Bay tonight and later on in Chaguanas.
No funding for me—carolyn
San Fernando West MP Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan says ILP’s Jack Warner never gave her money.
Responding to what she said were attacks on her, she said, “if there was any funding, it was not to my knowledge and it never happened in front of me, he walked the Trainline at Embacadere with me as he did with others in other marginal seats.”
“I don’t deny I know the man, I was a UNC member and part of a slate - in UNC elections - known as the Progressives and Warner, Roodal Moonilal and myself went up for deputy leader on that slate and Warner won.”