SOUTH AFRICA: Judge decides not to extradite son-in-law of former President Nelson Mandela to U.S. on stand trial on rape charges
Record ID:
455247
SOUTH AFRICA: Judge decides not to extradite son-in-law of former President Nelson Mandela to U.S. on stand trial on rape charges
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Judge decides not to extradite son-in-law of former President Nelson Mandela to U.S. on stand trial on rape charges
- Date: 12th February 2011
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 11, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF RANDBURG MAGISTRATES COURT ISAAC AMUAH AND HIS WIFE MAKAZIWE MANDELA WALKING UP STEPS TO COURT JOURNALISTS AMUAH MAKAZIWE MANDELA ISAAC AMUAH'S SPOKESPERSON TONNY SAULS STANDING OUTSIDE COURT WITH AMUAH AND MANDELA MORE OF JOURNALISTS JOURNALISTS SURROUNDING AMUAH'S SPOKESPERSON TONNY SAULS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISAAC AMUAH'S SPOKESPERSON, TONNY SAULS, SAYING: "The American authorities need to get their house in order before they make accusations like this. However, the family is quite thankful and impressed and satisfied with the judgement." MORE OF JOURNALISTS SURROUNDING SPOKESMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISAAC AMUAH'S SPOKESPERSON, TONNY SAULS, SAYING: "My client feels that someone was after money in this matter. And this happens, we see it all over the world that people of his calibre get attacked on issues like this. And thanks to the justice system of South Africa that we do not allow these things just to happen and everybody who actually does false accusations get away with it." VARIOUS OF AMUAH, HIS WIFE AND MEMBERS OF AMUAH'S TEAM LEAVING COURT
- Embargoed: 27th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa, South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Reuters ID: LVA18F4Q3RF6ZOKON3FUYCMYE7A9
- Story Text: A South African judge on Friday (February 11) decided not to extradite a son-in-law of former President Nelson Mandela to the United States, saying he doubted the merits of the U.S. rape case.
Magistrate Tefo Muyambo said the son-in-law, Isaac Amuah, appeared to be the victim of an extortion scheme and struck the case off the court roll, the SAPA news agency reported.
Amuah was charged with raping a U.S. woman in 1993 at his home in Connecticut. He went to South Africa before trial and never went back to the United States, law enforcement officials have said.
Tonny Sauls, a spokesman for Amuah, addressed reporters outside the court.
"The American authorities need to get their house in order before they make accusations like this. However, the family is quite thankful and impressed and satisfied with the judgement," Sauls said.
"My client feels that someone was after money in this matter. And this happens, we see it all over the world that people of his calibre get attacked on issues like this. And thanks to the justice system of South Africa that we do not allow these things just to happen and everybody who actually does false accusations get away with it."
A spokeswoman for the U.S. embassy said the embassy was aware of the case and would work with South African authorities on the matter. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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