By Mark Baber
February 26 – After nine months in jail, including nine weeks in the notorious New York Metropolitan Detention Centre – known as ‘Brooklyn’s Abu Ghraib’ – former FIFA executive committee member-elect, CONCACAF executive committee member and Costa Rican Football Federation president Eduardo Li was finally granted bail after a posting a bond of $300,000 in cash, $800,000 in US properties and the salaries of nine supporters worth over $900,000.
The bail package includes stock certificates tied to a Florida freight concern and a Costa Rica mortgage, bringing the total value of the collateral up to $5 million according to Li’s defence counsel.
Prosecutors had argued for a bond of between $10 -15 million, secured by $5 million to $7.5 million in cash or US property and had been successful in delaying the granting of bail at a hearing two weeks ago, despite Li’s attorney, Samuel Rosenthal, arguing that, “Mr. Li’s conduct in this case – and prior to this case – fails to offer even a scintilla of evidence suggesting that he has the proclivity or inclination to flee. In fact, he voluntarily waived extradition in order to come to the United States to deal with the charges and comported himself well after being arrested in Switzerland. And without the proclivity to flee, not even an opportunity to flee would warrant pre-trial detention.”
The government, represented by Paul Tuchman and Amanda Hector, had argued Li was a flight risk, particularly as Costa Rica is one of those countries, reluctant to surrender its citizens to the vagaries of the US justice system, which does not have an extradition treaty with the US.
Li denies allegations of having used his position to obtain bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sale of rights to FIFA World Cup qualifiers and is also fighting insurers to get them to fund his case under a $50 million directors’ and officers’ liability policy.
Conditions of Li’s bail are reported to include staying the New York area, wearing an electronic bracelet and 24-hour video surveillance, but he will be pleased to be reunited with his wife, daughter and family members who attended his hearing.
US prosecutors have charged 41 defendants in the wide-ranging football corruption case but, with the release of Li, none are currently being held in detention.
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