Colombian businessman Alex Saab, who is facing trial in the United States for money laundering, assures that a Venezuelan diplomat and a member of the National Guard (bodyguard) can attest to his alleged diplomatic status
The defense of the Colombian businessman, Álex Saab, requested before the United States court where the trial against him is being held, that two of his witnesses “a diplomat” and a “National Guard” pThey can testify through the Zoom platform from Venezuela.
The AP journalist, Joshua Goodman, reported through his Twitter social network account that Saab, who has been accused of being a figurehead for President Nicolás Maduro, asked that these people testify through Zoom because They do not have a US visa to travel to that country.
“Alex Saab says that a Venezuelan diplomat and a member of the National Guard/bodyguard can attest to his supposed diplomatic status. But he asks them to testify via Zoom from Caracas because US visas aren’t available until 2024. The new filing deletes names of witnesses to avoid ‘media harassment'”, said Goodman who showed the documents delivered in court.
Alex Saab says a Venezuelan diplomat and a National Guardsmen/Bodyguard can attest to his purported diplomatic status.
But he’s asking them to testify via Zoom from Caracas b/c US visas aren’t available until 2024.
New filing scrubs names of witnesses to avoid “media harassment.” pic.twitter.com/foNbZ7KZ66
— Joshua Goodman (@APjoshgoodman) September 1, 2022
Recently, a Miami federal judge ordered an official from the Department of Justice to be in charge of classified information in the case of Alex Saab, accused of having laundered hundreds of millions of dollars from corrupt deals with the Maduro government, reported the AP agency.
By appointing Carli V. Rodriguez-Feo as Classified Information Officer, Judge Robert Scola granted the prosecution’s request, which cited existing regulations to prevent unauthorized disclosure of any secret information found in American courts.
*Also read: Former Vice Minister Nervis Villalobos is saved “for now” from a process for corruption in Spain
What the prosecution would be looking for is to control classified information, at a time when it must present documents requested by Saab’s defense as evidence. The US government accuses him of amass a fortune of more than 350 million dollars through deals for which he would have paid bribes to Venezuelan officials and falsified documents to obtain contracts to build affordable housing.
Venezuela insists that Saab was one of its diplomats on a humanitarian mission en route to Iran when his plane was stopped in Cape Verde while stopping to refuel. Saab, whom Washington accuses of being Maduro’s figurehead, alleges that he cannot be tried in the United States because he was working as a diplomat and therefore has immunity. His defense is pressing the prosecution to provide him with documents that would show that. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Post Views:
71
