In the final hours, Barranquilla defense Álex Saab Morán unfolded a plan to cross his extradition to the United States, which has already been approved by the Cape Verde Court of Appeal.
(We invite you to read: Cape Verde Court Gives Way to Extradition of Saab)
They have already filed an opposition letter to the Supreme Court, they again went to the West African Court of Justice (Cedeao) to impose millionaire fines on Cape Verde for failing to house him and they launched a media offensive to put pressure on his freedom.
48 hours ago, EL TIEMPO revealed videos depicting the Saab family, his lawyers and even his doctor, insisting on the illegality of his capture and that he has stomach cancer that he is not being treated, contrary to international humanitarian standards.
(It may be of interest to you: the US secret plan so that Alex Saab does not escape)
In fact, Saab itself has stated that its rendition process is not in the final stage and He described the information provided by federal sources as taboo, ensuring that a plane is ready to hand him over.
in the crosshairs, relatives and lawyer
Parallel, Nicolás Maduro sent him a new lifeline and made a last-minute diplomatic appointment: he appointed Saab permanent ambassador and plenipotentiary to Africa, in an effort to grant him full immunity.
(Also: Maduro’s move to grant Álex Saab immunity)
And while US law has rejected the issue of immunity and kept quiet about these movements, it has not stood still.
Federal sources confirmed that in the coming weeks they will expand the charges prosecuting Nicolás Maduro’s aforementioned figurehead, including new names.
The United States connects Álex Saab with a dozen companies.
The main charge is money laundering of more than $ 350 million linked to the regime.
(In context: the Bogota woman in the crosshairs of the DEA for turns and tires with Álex Saab)
In addition to Saab, the Colombian Álvaro Pulido, his partner and designated accomplice, is mentioned there. And an investigation by EL TIEMPO found that the Barranquilla brothers Reinaldo and José Slebi are also involved in money flows entering the United States financial system.
(Also: This is Álex Saab’s credit card that entangled 2 Colombians)
Nicolás Maduro appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary in an attempt to grant him immunity. Federal sources assure the measure is not retroactive.
Apart from them, the Public Prosecution Service will include members of the Saab and Pulido environment who appear in businesses opened abroad (E.g. Hong Kong, Colombia, Panama, UAE) move large sums.
(It may be of interest to you: Álex Saab did not get the African Court to order his release)
The list of data subjects remains confidential. But this newspaper noted that there are relatives and close associates of Saab and Pulido, including a Barranquilla attorney dedicated to structuring businesses.
The extension of the charge was planned from 2020.
Piedad Córdoba admits she met Álex Saab, but insists that she did not introduce him to Hugo Chávez or Nicolás Maduro.
Indepaz y Piedad
For this reason, Miami sources rule out it being a response to Saab’s defense strategies, including sending a letter to the president of Cape Verde.
(We invite you to read: Why is Piedad Córdoba still in the DEA file on Álex Saab?)
This was signed (in September 2020) by members of the People’s Rights Observatory of the Peoples. Besides former senator Piedad Córdoba, the other Colombian figure is Camilo González Posso, head of Indepaz.
Camilo González Posso, President of the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz).
Claudia Rubio / TIME
In statements to EL TIEMPO, the former senator explained that although she knows Saab, they have no ties to her affairs with the Nicolás Maduro regime.
(View all articles of the EL TIEMPO research unit here)
González for his part explained that he does not know the process. But he said he signed the document and asked for due respect, based on information from former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón, Álex Saab’s lawyer.
RESEARCH UNIT
[email protected]
@BuienRadarNL