SOCCER-FIFA/ARGENTINA WANTED Lawyers for Argentine businessmen wanted in FIFA scandal say clients not expected in court

Record ID: 150883

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA/ARGENTINA WANTED Lawyers for Argentine businessmen wanted in FIFA scandal say clients not expected in court
  • Date: 11th June 2015
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JUNE 11, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINE FLAG FLYING OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE MORE OF COURT EXTERIOR
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACKDEP8PFC46V61O2T7D301P6C
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Defence lawyers for the Argentine father-son business duo wanted in the FIFA corruption scandal said on Thursday (June 11) that despite media rumours, their clients were not expected to appear in court for the time being.
    U.S. prosecutors say Hugo Jinkis, 70, and his son Mariano Jinkis, 40, conspired to win and keep lucrative media rights contracts from regional football federations by paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes and Interpol has since issued arrest warrants for both men.
    The Jinkis are controlling principals of Full Play, a sports media and marketing business headquartered in Argentina.
    Argentine media reported the two men were in Argentina but their precise whereabouts were unknown.
    Jorge Anzorreguy, defence lawyer for Hugo Jinkis, confirmed that both father and son were still in the country and said that they had proposed habeas corpus, a legal action typically used to challenge the legality of a person's detention or imprisonment, when the pair presented themselves in court prior to the issuing of the Interpol warrant.
    "They are not fugitives. From the beginning, before the arrest warrant (Interpol) they presented themselves at the federal courthouse where they asked for a prison exemption and not only that, they proposed habeas corpus, they have always shown willingness to follow the law and now we are waiting for the court decision," he said.
    Mariano Jinkis's lawyer, Francisco Castex, insisted that the businessmen's right to remain free during the extradition process applies to all citizens.
    "Everyone has the right to remain free during an extradition process. What the Jinkis are asking for this to be applied to all citizens, nothing more," he said.
    On Tuesday (June 9) a third Argentine wanted by U.S. authorities over the FIFA bribery investigation, businessman Alejandro Burzaco, surrendered voluntarily to police in northern Italy.
    Police in the city of Bolzano said they arrested Burzaco after he turned himself in at the police station accompanied by his lawyers.
    Burzaco was president of Argentine sports marketing firm Torneos y Competencias (Torneos), when the United States issued its indictment.
    The indictment states that Burzaco and the Jinkis's led their companies to form a new entity known as Datisa.
    Datisa entered into a $317.5 million contract with CONMEBOL to obtain exclusive worldwide rights to the 2015, 2019 and 2023 Copa America tournaments, according to the indictment.
    Datisa later entered into a $35 million contract with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, CONCACAF, to acquire rights for another tournament, the Copa America Centenario.
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