By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Oceania
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General has signed ‘Authority to Proceed’ documents, clearing the way for extradition proceedings against former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who is wanted in the United States on corruption charges. Warner’s attorneys are challenging the decision, stating that Trinidad & Tobago’s Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, missed the September 16 date for signing off on the documents, which would result in Mr. Warner’s discharge.
The case was adjourned until Friday, after lawyers asked for time to review the documents.
James Lewis, representing Trinidad & Tobago, however, said that there was no reason to discharge Warner, since the documents were now signed. Mr. Lewis also stated that with the signing of the Authority to Proceed, the process would be free to continue as necessary.
Mr. Warner is among nine officials of world football’s governing body, along with five sports marketing executives, indicted by US prosecutors. US authorities have asked for him to be extradited in order to face the charges.
Mr. Warner faces 12 charges of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery; while the list of offenses Mr. Warner is wanted for in the United States is certainly expansive, the situation regarding Mr. Warner also involves millions of dollars, spanning over the course of decades.
From the early 1990s, he allegedly began to leverage his influence and exploit his official positions for personal gain. Furthermore, he allegedly accepted a $10 million bribe from South African officials in return for voting to award the country the 2010 World Cup.
In one particular alleged instance, Mr. Warner bribed officials with envelopes each containing $40,000 in cash; when one demurred, he allegedly said: “There are some people here who think they are more pious than you. If you’re pious, open a church, friends. Our business is our business.”
Mr. Warner, the former president of CONCACAF, the governing soccer confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean, has denied all wrongdoing.
For more information, please see:
BBC News — FIFA corruption: Jack Warner extradition proceedings approved – 21 September 2015
Trinidad Express — Jack challenges AG’s decision to proceed with extradition – 21 September 2015
