CURRENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES

Noriega may be back in January

A lawyer for the former strong man said that France has lost interest in extraditing the dictator to face money laundering charges

OSIRIS JURADO AVILA
ojurado@laestrella.com.pa

Noriega finished his jail sentence in the United States on September 9, 2007 in the state of Miami, but remains in prison as a prisoner of war, after France requested his extradition to face money laundering charges.

The trial to decide Noriega’s fate was suspended this month and postponed until the first week of January.

Berrios added that France has already lost interest in Noriega and he even thinks that the deadline for any further legal action has already expired.

Noriega, 73, just wants to come back to Panama to end his days in peace, according to sources near to him.

An American judge denied a motion presented by Noriega’s lawyers, in which they were trying to stop his extradition to France. However, his fate will be decided on his next hearing on January 2009.

The November hearing was suspended because of the United States presidential elections.

In the past, judge Paul Huck has said that Noriega could be subject to an extradition procedure, although his defense lawyers argued that in France, where he was convicted in absentia for the crime of money laundering, he will not be treated as a prisoner of war, as established by the Geneva Convention.

Berrios is convinced that Noriega will not go to France mainly because French authorities are unhappy with Panama for their lack of success in reaching an agreement with regards to the former general’s extradition.

Civil groups in Panama believe that Noriega should come to the country and be judged for human rights violations, murder, drug trafficking and other crimes, while other sectors think that due to his age, he should be left in peace for the remainder of his life.

Recently there have been serious disputes regarding the sale of his property, because some believe that the proceeds should return to the State and not to his relatives.

The French government has not officially said that it has given up its claims over Noriega and a possibility exists that it will continue demanding extradition for the foreseeable future.

Publicidad