3 weeks ago, we told you about the extradition proceedings for Khaled El Turk, the Lebanese Belizean who the United States Government has under indictment. According to Drug Enforcement Agency, Khaled El Turk trafficked large quantities of pseudoephedrine – the chemical precursor for methamphetamines – from 2009 to 2012.
As a result, they've sent a warrant for his extradition on the charges of the importation of pseudoephedrine and conspiracy to the importation of pseudoephedrine, but as we told you, El Turk isn't going quietly. He is resisting the extradition, and his attorneys made submissions on his behalf at the last adjournment before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith.
Today, he was brought back to court, where the Government Crown Counsels were given an opportunity to respond to the submissions made by the defence.
Those submissions are of a technical legal nature, so we asked one of his attorneys to explain it outside of court.
Anthony Sylvester - Attorney for Khaled El Turk
"Well you will recall that Mr. El Turk in October of last year, a provisional warrant was submitted by the US Government for his arrest. He has been on remand at the Colby Facility since then. On April 4th the extradition proceeding started. Mr. Kevin Flowers, senior council, and myself appeared on behalf of Mr. Flowers at those preceding had submitted to the court the three bases the reason as to why the defendant was objecting to his extradition. Those were firstly, the crime for which he is alleged to have committed and to which his extradition is being sought; those being importation of pseudoephedrine. Conspiracy to import pseudoephedrine into the United States of America. Those aren't extraditable offences. For an offense to be an extraditable offence it must be a crime in both countries of a punishment of no less than one year. Interestingly though the proceedings the representative of the US Government very quickly conceded they are not strictly seeking an offense of importation of pseudoephedrine in Belize. So what they have sought to do is to temper/maneuver their agreements and are now alleging and submitting that the effect of the substance that Mr. El Turk is being sought for manufacturing and dealing with Meth Amphetamine. That is what was submitted this morning and we in turn will respond to that submission on May 16th."
Magali Perdomo is the lead crown counsel for the Government of Belize.
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