Former Peruvian president Alexander Toledo He surrendered this Friday before the United States court in San José, California, to conclude the process of his extradition to Peru.
Interviewed by Rfi, his lawyer José Roberto Su Rivadeneyra explained that the extradition it would take “four or five days”.
After Judge Beryl A. Howel rThursday will launch the last resort filed by his lawyers, Toledo released a short video, made during an interview with the EFE news agency, in which he reiterated his decision to appear before justice.
“I’ll show up tomorrow (for this Thursday) he said, and I don’t know how long they’ll keep me here, or who will come to get me from Lima”.
“The only thing I ask – he added – is not to escape justice, but I ask you a favor: don’t kill me in jail! Allow me to fight to defend myself with my arguments”.
Toledo is accused in the case known as Interoceánica of corruption and of having received bribes for tens of millions of dollars. of the Brazilian company Odebrecht when he was in power (2001-2006).
Former Peruvian head of state was arrested in 2019 in California and spent eight months in pre-trial detention to avoid the risk of absconding, before moving to house arrest in March 2020.
Of the ten presidents who have governed Peru for varying periods over the past 40 years, seven (Alan García, Alberto Fujimori, Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra and Pedro Castillo) have had problems with the law and ended up in prison. the prison.
what your lawyer says
José Roberto Su Rivadeneirathe Toledo lawyer explained in an interview with Rfi that the former president “already in California the resources had been exhausted”.
“Once the president has placed himself at the disposal of the US authorities, the Peruvian authorities must travel to the United States. so that they hand over President Toledo and then have to transfer him to Peru. I understand that these procedures must take four or five days.
-The former president filed a final appeal in Federal Court for the District of Columbia, which was denied. What were the arguments of his defense to stop the extradition?
– In the United States, to defense through habeas corpus. The US lawyers argue that there is no probable cause because the versions that support the accusation in Peru are two contradictory, unreliable testimonies of collaborators, when the documentation claims that Mr. Toledo did not receive the money he is accused of in Peru. However, Judge Hixson considered in his decision that these contradictions were important, but it was not for him to resolve or analyze them in depth, but for the judges of Peru.
– Now, once located in Peru, what will be the next steps of Justice?
-When the president arrives in Peru, here he has an active defense to face the trial for which he is extradited, which is the Odebrecht case, which among other things is not a trialable trial, but the prosecution control has just begun, which it is a process that takes more or less six months or more.
Will you go to prison in Peru?
-There is an arrest warrant on him, an 18-month detention. When he arrives in Peru he has to go to prison. However, according to the medical information being managed, the possibility of being able to suddenly request that his detention be accommodated is being considered, but this depends on the medical reports being collected.
Source: ANSA and RFI
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Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.