SOCCER-FIFA/WARNER Former FIFA Vice President Warner calls for his trial to start before elections

Record ID: 142219

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA/WARNER Former FIFA Vice President Warner calls for his trial to start before elections
  • Date: 28th August 2015
  • Summary: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (AUGUST 28, 2015) (REUTERS) ZOOM OUT OF DISTRICT COURT HOUSE PAN OF DISTRICT COURT HOUSE FORMER FIFA VICE PRESIDENT JACK WARNER WALKING OUT OF COURTHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER FIFA VICE PRESIDENT JACK WARNER SAYING: "Well I am ashamed of what the judicial system has reached in this country. I saw bully and badger in court today and I'm just ashamed. I hung my head in shame. They have asked for adjournment because of the general election and I shall be releasing a letter in the media today and I said that the general election had nothing to do with it. Today is 93 days. I do not know what the charges are. I do not know why I am charged. I do not know when the offenses were committed. I do not know where. It's 93 days and they are asking for an adjournment because they are ready and I'm saying I do not understand. There was urgency to hold me and to arrest me and so on. After 93 days what is the delay? Why hasn't agent signed the order for the beginning of the matter. And I'm sitting there for advice this morning, I saw a bully in a court this morning of the worst kind. That's all I can say." (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER FIFA VICE PRESIDENT JACK WARNER SAYING: "All these people have said so from day one because if it is so urgent, if you wanted to arrest me and so on why did you have to wait for 93 days and up till now I do not know what the charges are, nor my lawyers. That can't be right guys. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER FIFA VICE PRESIDENT JACK WARNER SAYING: "Well I shall release a letter today. Give me half an hour. The entire media shall get a letter and you will see that Mr. Khan has once again lied to the court because I have a copy of the letter and I'm saying that the general election has nothing to do with it. If AG and AG cannot sign it because of bias then he can delegate somebody to sign it. He doesn't have to sign it himself. Delegate someone. If because you are bias, and because you owe me money, only because your first ever pretrial publicity and you cannot sign then give it to somebody to sign it. There's lots of advice for that. You can delegate it. Right? But you see the facts is that I want to take them on. I want to take them on before the election but they want to take me on after the election. I think it's unfair. I want it before the election guys. All right see you all." WARNER WALKING AWAY FROM COURT HOUSE SIDE SHOT OF WARNER WALKING WARNER GETTING IN CAR PAN OF COURTHOUSE PORT OF SPAIN MAGISTRATES' COURT SIGN ZOOM OUT FROM DISTRICT COURT
  • Embargoed: 12th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Country: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4YER7VWXENFC3B38XRNC3N8WP
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner continued his fight against extradition charges to the United States on Friday (August 28).
    Speaking to reporters outside the court house in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Warner said he is ashamed of the judicial system in the country and is claiming political bias in the case. Warner is leading the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) campaign for Sept. 7 general elections.
    "They have asked for adjournment because of the general election and I shall be releasing a letter in the media today and I said that the general election had nothing to do with it," Warner said.
    Warner, once one of the most powerful men in soccer's global governing body, is wanted on a dozen charges stemming from an investigation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
    "I do not know what the charges are. I do not know why I am charged. I do not know when the offenses were committed. I do not know where. It's 93 days and they are asking for an adjournment because they are ready and I'm saying I do not understand. There was urgency to hold me and to arrest me and so on. After 93 days what is the delay? Why hasn't agent signed the order for the beginning of the matter," Warner said.
    Warner's lawyers called for a judicial review last month which could stall extradition proceedings against Warner, with appeals going to the London-based Privy Council, the country's highest court. Trinidad and Tobago gained independence from Britain in the 1960s but retained the Privy Council as its final court of appeal.
    It is the fourth time that Warner has appeared before judge Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port of Spain Magistrates court and Warner said he is ready to begin his fight.
    "I want to take them on before the election but they want to take me on after the election. I think it's unfair. I want it before the election guys," Warner said.
    The former FIFA Vice President is wanted in the United States to face a dozen charges including bribery, corruption and wire fraud conspiracy in his role at FIFA.
    Warner is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with running a criminal enterprise that involved more than $150 million in bribes.
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