A formal request has been sent by the United States to Switzerland for the extradition of seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich, while Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General, Garvin Nicholas, said yesterday that the process has been “advanced for some, if not all”.
The request is part of a corruption probe that includes charges against former FIFA vice president and T&T’s Independent Liberal Party’s (ILP) leader, Jack Warner.
Warner up to Wednesday night led a political cottage meeting in La Paille Village, Caroni, where he expressed confidence that he would beat any charges. The BBC and The Associated Press (AP) reported yesterday that Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice said yesterday that the requests were received from the US Embassy in Bern.
The requests were expected and submitted late Wednesday, met a 40-day deadline since the seven were detained in May, in raids on a luxury hotel in FIFA’s home city.
Local authorities have not confirmed any arrival of a formal request for the extradition of Warner, who reappears in court here on July 9 .
Asked for a comment yesterday, Nicholas said he was aware of the BBC report and stated, “It would appear from the story that the US Department of Justice has advanced the legal procedure for extradition of some if not all.”
All seven men detained in Zurich, including three current and former members of FIFA’s executive committee, have already objected to extradition but could face around 20 years in prison.
Ruling within a few weeks
The US Department of Justice in May published an indictment of 14 soccer and marketing officials, including Warner’s sons Daryan and Darryl, who have pleaded guilty, which alleged bribery linked to awarding broadcast rights for international tournaments in North and South America. The indictment revealed that former FIFA executive Chuck Blazer admitted to being part of a US$10 million bribe scheme with Warner for supporting South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup.
“These crimes are thought to have been agreed and prepared in the USA, and payments were allegedly routed through US banks,” the Swiss justice ministry said in a statement yesterday, according to the BBC.
The seven will be heard by Zurich cantonal (State) police and granted a 14-day period to respond to federal officials about the extradition request, the Swiss justice ministry said.
Swiss justice officials will then rule “within a few weeks” on whether to extradite them and that ruling can be appealed to Switzerland’s top criminal court and Supreme Court. American law enforcement officials have confirmed that FIFA President Sepp Blatter is also a target of the investigation which is expected to bring more indictments.
Blatter said June 2 he would leave office within months, as pressure built from the American case and a separate Swiss federal investigation focused on possible money laundering linked to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting awards to Russia and Qatar, respectively. Blatter cannot be extradited from his native Switzerland to the US without his consent.