Miami Judge Confirms Alex Saab Must Respond To US Charges: “He’s A Fugitive”

Miami, Florida judge denied taking fugitive from justice from Colombian businessman Alex Saab, alleged leader of Nicolás Maduro, detained in Cape Verde, a country which this week authorized his extradition to the United States.

The American judge Robert N. Scola thus rejected a request in which the defense of Saab also asked to answer the charges of the office of the prosecutor of the United States without setting foot in the country.

“Saab Moran cannot attack his fugitive status and his prosecution until he is physically present in this jurisdiction (USA)“Said the judge in the court documents to which he had access Efe.

The judge thus rejected a request presented last January by the defense of Saab, accused in the United States of conspiracy to launder money and laundering financial instruments, like his right-hand man, Álvaro Enrique Pulido, also Colombian.

“Saab Moran is a fugitive», Assured the judge in the judgment. He detailed that an accused is a fugitive “if he intentionally avoids arrest by fleeing, in hiding or by absenting himself from jurisdiction”.

After the Cape Verde Supreme Court of Justice authorized Saab’s extradition to the United States last week, US federal prosecutors believe the extradition will be effective before May.

Saab is being sought by the Miami Southern District Court for the laundering of 350 million dollars. However, North American authorities consider Colombian to be essential for obtaining relevant information on the criminal structure of the Venezuelan dictatorship.

“Mr. Saab’s name appears in the agreements with Iran, in the movement of dollars and gold to Turkey; and in opaque companies that transit through Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Russia and Liechtenstein. He has a lot of information about Venezuela and its allies and about Maduro’s particular activities “, assured an investigator, on condition of anonymity, to the Colombian newspaper Time.

“Saab is at the head of Maduro’s financial structure. In December 2017, out of the ten dollars that Maduro handles, eight go through the Saab structure, either to buy food or to monetize gold in Turkey and Russia ”, added Carlos Paparoni, Presidential Commissioner of Juan Guaidó against terrorism and crime.

The influence of the Colombian businessman on the Venezuelan regime is such that neither the United States nor Colombia know how far all the million dollar negotiations he is carrying out in the name of the dictatorship go. from Maduro. Therefore, the information in your possession is very relevant and sensitive. Maduro and his surroundings know this. Hence the relentless efforts to free Saab.

Saab Is Solicited By Miami Southern District Court For $ 350 Million Laundering. However, the North American authorities regard the Colombian as an essential element to obtain relevant information on the criminal structure of the Venezuelan dictatorship.

Saab has been detained since last June in Cape Verde on the basis of an arrest warrant for extradition requested by the United States.

According to the indictment, Saab and Pulido laundered up to $ 350 million that they allegedly defrauded through Venezuela’s exchange control system.

According to the US Department of Justice, between November 2011 and September 2015, Saab and Pulido conspired with other people to launder their illicit income and transfer it from Venezuela to bank accounts in the United States, which is why Washington claims have jurisdiction in the United States. case.

(With information from EFE)

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