Khalifa: further postponement of the decision on extradition
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LONDON - British Minister of Interior Alan Johnson has requested an extension until April 30 to make his decision on the extradition of the former Algerian tycoon Rafik Khalifa to his country, announced Wednesday a Ministry spokesman.
- "The deadline has been extended to April 30 at the request of the minister," said the spokesman of the ministry, explaining that it was a "complex issue".
Mr. Johnson would initially make his positive or negative decision before October 24, 2009. But he received a report on four occasions, including one bearing the new deadline of April 30.
The British court has authorized in June 2009 extradition to his country of Khalifa who was sentenced in absentia in March 2007 to life imprisonment including fraudulent bankruptcy. It belongs to the British Minister of Interior to validate the decision.
Mr. Khalifa was convicted in Algeria of "criminal conspiracy, robbery, embezzlement and forgery.
He fled to London in 2003 when the financial scandal erupted in the Khalifa Bank and several of his business empire. He was arrested March 27, 2007 in the UK under a European arrest warrant issued by the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Nanterre, near Paris.
France has also filed an extradition request to London but its consideration has been frozen, pending a final decision on the request of Algeria, which supersedes that of Paris.
Meanwhile, the procedure continues in France but justice is divided on holding a court in Nanterre, of a trial of Mr. Khalifa.
A magistrate in Nanterre wants to summon former businessman, accusing him of crimes of bankruptcy by concealing or misappropriation of assets. But the public prosecutor in Nanterre opposes, arguing that the facts of bankruptcy can not be prosecuted because they were not committed within the jurisdiction of the court and the companies listed have no legal personality in France. - Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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