Jack Warner talks to reporters about why he’s seeking judicial review in his extradition case, after making a court appearance yesterday.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Tuesday July 28, 2015 – FIFA corruption accused Jack Warner plans to file an application for judicial review of his extradition matter, arguing that the case has been tainted by political bias and it is impossible for him to get a fair hearing.
Warner made the disclosure to the media after a court appearance yesterday. It was not the first time he appeared in the Port of Spain Magistrates Court on 12 money laundering, racketeering, wire fraud and corruption charges but the first time since the United States last week sent the formal request for him to be extradited.
The matter was adjourned until August 28 after the state and defence lawyers asked for more time to review the 166-page extradition document which outlines the US case against the former FIFA vice-president and president of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).
But Warner, who is on TT$2.5 million (US$394,601) bail, says he has already been tried in public, with several people, chief among them Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal and Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar, all making biased statements.
“When they were saying ‘Why don’t you give up yourself?’ and so on, there were judging me in the public and they should not have done that. They are all lawyers and they should know that they should not have done that,” the 72-year-old Warner told reporters.
“The case is tainted and it will be impossible for me to get a fair hearing . . . I’m saying that Moonilal, the Prime Minister, Prakash Ramadhar, among others, are politically biased in this matter. Therefore I am asking for a judicial review and I’ve so instructed my legal team.”
He is one of 14 football officials and marketing executives named in a 47-count indictment which alleges they were involved in a scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer from as far back as 1990.
Warner, who is also political leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) which is contesting the September 7 elections in Trinidad and Tobago, has insisted he is innocent of all charges.