By Paul Nicholson
October 6 – Rafael Esquivel, one of the seven FIFA executives arrested in the dawn raids at the end of May and detained on US warrants for his extradition, has been refused release from custody on health grounds as the Swiss view him as a flight risk.
Esquivel, the former head of the Venezuelan Football Association, had his extradition to the US approved September 26 by the Swiss court. He has 30 days to appeal against this ruling, but in the meantime filed a request to be released from prison under health grounds.
Concerns over Esquivel’s health had been mounting with one rumour even suggesting he had been rushed to hospital for emergency care. It is reported that since he has been jailed he has lost significant amounts of weight.
The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police confirmed to Insideworldfootball that Esquivel was in hospital but that he was not in a critical condition or in a condition that would prevent further proceedings against him. His admission was described as being “just for checks” and that this was “just routine control”.
A Swiss statement on ruling against Equivel’s release on medical grounds said: “The court held that there was a risk that the appellant would abscond if released. The arguments put forward in support of his release, such as his advanced age and poor state of health, were not regarded as sufficient to counter the risk of absconding.
“The court took into account that appellant has no close ties to Switzerland and is more than capable of travelling long distances. Measures such as money bail, electronic monitoring, etc. would not adequately reduce the risk of flight.
“Further medical tests are currently being carried out to establish whether there is any medical reason why the appellant should not remain in detention.”
Esquivel is accused of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights to the Copa America tournaments in 2007, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023. He has 30 days in which to lodge an appeal against his extradition to the US which was granted September 23.
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