7 News Belize

AG On Extradition Request
posted (January 8, 2018)
We also asked the Attorney General for a comment on the extradition request that has come from the US Government for Belizean attorney Andrew Bennett.

We've reported extensively on the allegation that he did money laundering for an undercover DEA agent. The US says that they have evidence that he laundered 250 thousand US dollars, which he was told was the proceeds of drug sales belonging to Colombian and Puerto Rican drug trafficking organization.

He is facing an arrest warrant from the District of Puerto Rico, dated July 2015, and an indictment for 7 counts of money laundering from a Puerto Rico Grand Jury. We tried to ask the Attorney General for an update. It is his ministry that will have to prosecute the case on behalf of the US Government in Belize. He told us that at this point, we know more about it than he does:

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"I made a pledge, when I first became Attorney General, that I would not be commenting on the processes of any case or the merits or demerits of any case. I know for sure that the Sol Gen has prepared the necessary documents. Those have been sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and it's the Minister of Foreign Affairs who sets the matters in motion. Once he signs the necessary papers, we then apply to the Magistrate for various steps to be taken. We have not received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs any documentation for us to bring to the Magistracy as yet, as of what I knew 8 o'clock this morning."

"As you know, for better, or for worse, the Attorney General's Ministry becomes the attorneys for the US Government in all extradition matters. That's the law, we have no choice with that, but I am not going to discuss the details of a case that has not been resolved as yet."

Daniel Ortiz, reporter
"Sir, is it concerning to you as an attorney with long standing in Belize's Bar that one of your own colleagues is being called into question?"

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
"Well, it's disturbing to me whenever a Belizean is looking to get extradited. Indeed, when one of your colleagues, there is a request for one of your colleagues, it makes it extra tough because that is a person you know. Andrew Bennett, I consider to be a very good acquaintance of mine, but it makes it very very difficult now, because, as Attorney General, how I operate personally with him, how I operate professionally with his firm or other friends, it does affect you. So, indeed, it is a very uncomfortable situation, but we are professionals, and we must carry out our duties professionally."

In the case that the extradition is proceeded with, a provisional arrest warrant would first have to be signed by the Chief Magistrate, after the government of Belize has determined that the US has a prima facie case against Bennett. After that Bennett Would be arrested and taken to court so that the extradition charge could be read to him by Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser.

Thereafter, Bennett would be remanded to the Belize Central Prison to await his extradition trial.

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