Kuwait- Two more FIFA officials in custody pending extradition
Date
12/3/2015 4:54:14 AM
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA Dec 3 (KUNA) -- On instructions of the Swiss Federal Office of Justice FOJ two more FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich Thursday -- held in custody pending their extradition.According to the US arrest requests they are suspected of accepting bribes of millions of dollars said the FOJ in a press release from its headquarters in the Swiss Capital Bern.The two FIFA officials were arrested by the Zurich cantonal police today in Zurich. The detention orders issued by the FOJ are based on arrest requests submitted by the United States Department of Justice on November 29. In light of further investigations conducted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York these individuals are now also suspected of having received bribes. The high-ranking FIFA officials are alleged to have taken the money in return for selling marketing rights in connection with football tournaments in Latin America as well as World Cup qualifying matches.According to the arrest requests some of the offences were agreed and prepared in the USA. Payments were also processed via US banks. On behalf of the FOJ the Zurich cantonal police will hold hearings on the US arrest requests before the end of today. Simplified proceedings apply if the wanted person declares at the hearing that they agree to be extradited immediately. In such cases the FoJ may approve extradition to the USA immediately and order its completion. However should any person oppose their extradition the FOJ will ask the USA to submit a formal extradition request within the 40-day deadline laid down in the bilateral extradition treaty.Two of the seven former FIFA officials arrested in Zurich on 27 May 2015 agreed to simplified extradition proceedings. Jeffrey Webb and Jos Maria Marin were then transferred to the US authorities on 15 July and 3 November respectively. However the other five - Eugenio Figueredo Eduardo Li Julio Rocha Costas Takkas and Rafael Esquivel - oppose their extradition to the USA and their appeals against the FOJ's rulings are pending before the Federal Criminal Court.Further to four US requests for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters starting on 27 May 2015 the FOJ froze a series of accounts at Swiss banks through which it is alleged the bribes were routed. It has also obtained the corresponding banking documents. To date the FOJ has ordered the handover of such documents in five final partial rulings. The account-holders have 30 days in which to appeal against these rulings before the Federal Criminal Court. Should the account-holder decide not to lodge an appeal or if any such appeal is rejected by the Federal Criminal Court or the Federal Supreme Court the final ruling becomes legally enforceable. Only then is the FOJ able to hand the evidence gathered in Switzerland over to the US authorities. (end) ta.rk
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