The sentimental partner of the businessman Barranquilla and others of his relatives left Caracas for the Russian capital, where they currently live.
Alex Saab’s future is not yet defined. While the African judiciary continues to assess the possibilities of the case, the defense is trying to stop a possible extradition to the United States by all possible means. The decision is in the hands of the Supreme Court of Cape Verde, which is responsible for determining whether it agrees with the Barlovento Court of Appeal, which on January 5 gave the green light to Saab’s extradition to the United States. (Read also: Eight months of the novel for the extradition of Alex Saab)
However, the team of lawyers working for the Colombian businessman continues to move and, as confirmed by the EFE Agency, three days ago, the defenders asked the justice in Cape Verde to suspend the extradition process of Saab, identified as an alleged front man Nicolás Mature. “Yesterday I filed a request to suspend the extradition process against Ambassador Saab to the Supreme Court of Cape Verde,” said Pinto Monteiro, Saab’s chief lawyer in Cape Verde.
The petition The petition came after a hearing on 5 February before the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS, a bloc of which Cape Verde is a member) on the case of the Colombian businessman. What explains the Colombian defense is that Cape Verde has to wait for this court to define what is related to the alleged immunity that Saab enjoys as a plenipotentiary ambassador to Africa, a position that was recently granted to him while in detention.
The truth is that, although the emphasis is on judicial discussion, Saab’s arrest had other consequences. According to El Tiempo, Italian model Camilla Fabri, current partner of Saab and other relatives of the businessman, left Caracas earlier this year and settled in Moscow (Russia), with the approval of Venezuela. This environment established that the motivation of Saab’s relatives to leave the country is that, since the capture of the businessman, the family has remained strongly guarded by a security system. (You may be interested in: Alex Saab: Cape Verde says it does not recognize ECOWAS African Court)
Saab was detained on June 12, 2020, when its plane stopped refueling at Amilcar Cabral International Airport on the island of Sal in Cape Verde, following a request from the United States through Interpol for the alleged laundering of millions of dollars. A month later, the Cape Verdean court authorized his extradition to the United States, a decision his defense immediately challenged.
On January 4, the Barlavento Court of Appeal decided to give the green light to Saab’s extradition to the United States, a decision that lawyers challenged. The United States considers Saab a “front man” for Maduro and is suspected of laundering – along with his right hand man Álvaro Enrique Pulido – up to $ 350 million (about 296 million euros) to pay for alleged corruption. the Venezuelan president.
The defendant has been under house arrest in Cape Verde since January 26, remaining in a private residence in the tourist town of Santa María. His defense had asked the Cape Verdean court for this measure, claiming that his health was “poor” due to his “existing cancer condition”, about which no other details were provided. (Related article: Álex Saab’s defense denounces authorities delaying release from prison)