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UK dismisses challenge to extradition of former FIFA vice president to US to face corruption charges – JURIST

The UK Privy Council Thursday dismissed former FIFA vice president Jack Warner’s appeal against a US extradition request in the USA v. Webb Et Al (known as the FIFA corruption case). The unanimous ruling will clear the way for extradition procedures to take place in Trinidad and Tobago’s magistrate court. Warner may be extradited from Trinidad and Tobago to the US to face charges for racketeering, bribery, corruption and money laundering.A United States District Court in Brooklyn issued an indictment of several high ranking officials in a FIFA corruption scandal in 2015. The allegations involve an estimated $150 million USD in stolen funds between 1990 and 2011. Following the charges, Warner was released on bail in Trinidad. However, the United States filed an extradition order under a bilateral extradition treaty following the hearing.Trinidad and Tobago’s then-Attorney General Faris Al Wari signed the Authority To Proceed (ATP), approving the extradition request. However, Warner filed a lawsuit against the AG on the grounds that the AG’s ATP was a breach of his right to procedural fairness and that Al Wari did not act in conformity with the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution. He further argued that the extradition treaty between the US and Trinidad contradicts the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act. The Privy Council dismissed all grounds raised, finding that the AG acted lawfully and affirming the Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal decision.Warner issued a statement that he intends to continue to challenge the decision, and denies involvement in the charges against him.