Alex Saab, alleged figurehead for Maduro, appeals a ruling that denied him diplomatic immunity in the case of money laundering

defense of alex saabappealed this Wednesday the ruling of a judge of Miami that he considers that the Colombian-Venezuelan businessman does not enjoy diplomatic immunity as he argued in his request to dismiss the accusation of money laundering that he faces in USA.

The appeal of Saab, alleged figurehead of the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Madurowas filed before an Atlanta appeals court, after a Miami judge ruled against him last Friday.

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Among others, Judge Robert M. Scola noted that “It is clear that the United States does not recognize the Maduro regime” and consequently also considers “illegitimate” any claim by you to diplomatic immunity.

The appeal this Wednesday was filed with the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuita court that had already returned to Miami the task of reviewing the issue of diplomatic immunity last May, then dealing a setback to Saab’s defense.

Saab, 51, has been detained in Miami since October 2021 when he was extradited from Cape Verde, and is charged with a money laundering charge that carries up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

His defense sought to dismiss the case arguing that he was a “special envoy” to Iran, when he was arrested in the middle of the trip, at a stop in Cape Verde (Africa).

However, Judge Scola noted that the “Evidence suggests that the Maduro regime and its accomplices have fabricated documents to cover up Saab Morán in a diplomatic suit that does not fit him”.

He added that everything was “an effort to exploit the diplomatic immunities law and prevent his extradition to the United States”.

He also argued that Saab is not covered by the Vienna Convention, which “only refers to ‘diplomatic agents’ protections in the context of permanent missions”, not temporary.

Saab, who was arrested on June 12, 2020 in Cape Verde, was extradited to the US in 2021 after a lengthy legal battle in Cape Verde over alleged diplomatic immunity, which reached the highest court in that African country. .

The businessman was indicted by the US Attorney’s Office on July 25, 2019, who then issued an arrest warrant against him.

“Following news of Saab Morán’s arrest, the Maduro regime sought to devise ways to prevent his extradition to the United States by exploiting the diplomatic immunities law.”Judge Scola said.

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According to the indictment, between 2011 and at least 2015, Saab and his partner Álvaro Pulido, who is a fugitive, conspired with others to launder the proceeds of a corruption network based on bribes aimed at obtaining contracts to carry out public projects and fraud to the system. of foreign exchange control in Venezuela.

Saab and Pulido are accused of transferring from Venezuela, through the US, approximately 350 million dollars to accounts they owned or controlled in other countries, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

The businessman declarednot guilty” in November 2021 of the money laundering charge against him in the United States.

Source: Elcomercio

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