Posted on 08/24/2007 2:07:58 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
MIAMI - A judge refused Friday to block the extradition of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega to France, where he is accused of laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds through French banks.
Senior U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler rejected arguments by Noriega's lawyers that his status as a U.S. prisoner of war negated the French request under the Geneva Conventions and required his return home to Panama.
The decision, which could be appealed, means a hearing before another judge will go forward Tuesday on the extradition request.
Hoeveler, in a 12-page decision, said his designation of Noriega as a prisoner of war following his 1992 conviction was not meant "to shield him from all future prosecutions for serious crimes he is alleged to have committed."
Noriega, 72, is to be released from a U.S. prison Sept. 9 after serving 15 years for drug trafficking and racketeering. He faces up to 10 more years in prison in France.
While in the U.S., Noriega was convicted in Panama of embezzlement, corruption and murdering political opponents and sentenced to 60 years. But he could wind up serving only a fraction of that time or even get house arrest under Panamanian law.
U.S. forces captured Noriega after a 1989 military invasion ordered by then-President George H.W. Bush in part because of the Panamanian's links to Colombian drug traffickers. He was convicted of accepting bribes to allow shipments of U.S.-bound cocaine to pass through Panama.
Noriega also was an asset of the CIA for many years in Latin America, including acting as liaison to Cuban President Fidel Castro, according to court documents.
France wants Noriega to face charges of laundering more than $3 million in drug proceeds through five French banks. Noriega was convicted in absentia of those charges and sentenced to 10 years, but the French agreed to hold a new trial if Noriega is extradited from the U.S.
Former dictator Manuel Noriega is shown in his 04 January 1990 booking photo supplied by the US District Attorneys office. Lawyers for Noriega urged a US court on Monday not to extradite him to France when he ends his jail time in the United States.(AFP/HO/File)
Do the French want him there for the unveiling of a national monument in his honor?
It breaks my heart that this criminal won’t be permitted to return to Panama.
Monsieur Figure de Pamplemousse.
The same thing needs to happen to George Soros.
The government should refuse to send him to France until the French reinstate the death penalty. Only fair to make that work both ways.
Hey! Pineapple Face! BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHA!
Dims would never stand still for that to happen.
If he is serving 15 years, wouldn’t that mean he should have been released 2 1/2 years ago?
Judge Orders Stay of Extradition for Noriega
Wednesday, September 05 2007 @ 03:26 PM EST
Contributed by: Don Winner
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This afternoon Senior United States District Judge William M. Hoeveler granted an emergency stay of extradition in favor of ex-dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega. According to the decision Noriega’s lawyers submitted an emergency motion for stay of extradition based on information that Noriega was going to be released (and presumably extradited to France) tomorrow, 6 September 2007. In his request Noriega alleges France does not intend to abide by the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
What - No Red Cross Packages? Noriega got somewhat better treatment while in US custody because of his official POW status granted by Judge Hoeveler many moons ago. Noriega is now trying to say that it would not be fair for him to be extradited to France because he would not be treated like a POW.
Not A Final Decision: This decision will not keep Noriega in the United States or keep him from being extradited to France. The emergency stay just prevents the United States from extraditing him now. The Judge ordered the United States to produce the diplomatic communications between the United States and France in which they indicate their ability and willingness to abide by the Geneva Convention. Noriega, on the other hand, has to produce evidence to the contrary. The judge gave both sides until 12:00 noon tomorrow, 6 September 2007, to present their materials and then he will probably decide the issue. Pedro Miguel Gonzalez (whoops, sorry) Manuel Antonio Noriega will most likely fly to France tomorrow afternoon as an official POW. Good for him.
Copyright 2007 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
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