By Mark Baber
August 28 – In the latest moves in the FIFA corruption case, an Argentine judge has suspended the US extradition request for Argentine businessmen Hugo and Mariano Jinkis in lieu of more information from US prosecutors, whilst the US has insisted on priority over Nicaragua in extraditing Julio Rocha from Switzerland.
Judge Claudio Bonadio signed an order suspending the extradition process regarding father and son Hugo and Mariano Jinkis for 30 days and requiring US prosecutors to explain “in concrete terms, what actions by the defendants broke each of the laws they are accused of violating?”
In a further development, in the case of Julio Rocha (former Nicaraguan Football Federation president) who is currently detained in Switzerland, the US refused to drop its extradition request in favour of that of Nicaragua.
Swiss Justice Minister Folco Galli confirmed the consequences of the predictable US decision saying, “We have always said we will decide in September… We will decide on the US request concerning Rocha and also decide the question of which state has priority.”
Two weeks ago the Swiss explained the basis on which a decision will be made saying they would “consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to the relative seriousness and place of commission of the offences, the respective dates of receipt of the requests, the nationality of the person claimed and the possibility of subsequent extradition to another state.”
Meanwhile in Paraguay, Judge Humberto Otazu on Thursday refused the request of Nicolás Leoz (President of CONMEBOL from 1986 to 2013) for him to deny the US extradition request in his case which will now proceed to the Appeals Court in Asuncion.
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