Venezuela wants to extradite Fat Leonard from the U. S.
2022.10.19 16:37
Venezuela wants to extradite Fat Leonard from the U. S.
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – The highest court in Venezuela has given the United States 60 days to request the extradition of fugitive Malaysian businessman Leonard Glenn Francis, also known as “Fat Leonard,” who is involved in a bribery case involving the United States Navy.
Although the supreme court’s decision was made public on Wednesday by an official media reporter, it was issued last week.
On September 21, Francis was detained at the main airport in Caracas as he was getting ready to leave for Russia. Through Interpol, the U.S. government had previously made a red flag request for his detention.
The decision made by the Venezuelan court comes as Washington-Caracas relations appear to have improved in recent months after years of tension.
The court stated that it would inform the United States via the Venezuelan foreign ministry of its decision, which included the requirement that a formal request for Francis’ extraction be submitted within two months and include evidence of his alleged crimes.
In its October 13 ruling, the court added that the businessman will be granted “unrestricted release” if U.S. authorities do not comply within the two-month deadline.
According to Interpol Venezuela, Francis planned to travel to Russia when he arrived in Venezuela from Mexico with a stopover in Cuba.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that prior to his September sentence, he reportedly removed his monitoring anklet and escaped house arrest in the United States.
