(7 Jan 2009) HEADLINE: U.S. Sentence served, Noriega fights extradition
CAPTION: More than a year ago, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega completed his sentence for drug racketeering and money laundering and the former Panamanian leader thought he was headed home. Instead, U.S. officials dropped a legal bomb. (Jan. 7)
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
(Notes: OPENS with file video on Noriega)
FORMER PANAMANIAN DICTATOR MANUEL ANTONIO NORIEGA HAS COMPLETED A 17-YEAR SENTENCE FOR DRUG RACKETEERING AND MONEY LAUNDERING CONVICTIONS. BUT FRANCE WANTS HIM EXTRADITED TO FACE ADDITIONAL CHARGES.
(Notes: attorney Frank Rubino)
SOT Frank Rubino: "Beware of what you do in Gen. Noriega's case because the future may hold problems for United States soldiers around the world who may be captured." (:10)
(Notes: Rubino at his downtown Miami office.)
HIS LAWYERS ARGUE THAT SINCE NORIEGA WAS BEING HELD AS A POW IN THE U.S. AND HIS SENTENCE IS OVER, HE SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY RETURNED TO PANAMA _ WHERE HE WANTS TO BE WITH HIS FAMILY. THEY SAY THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS _ WHICH INCLUDES A LIST OF RULES ON HOW TO TREAT POWs AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE REPATRIATED _ DO NOT ALLOW THE U.S. TO SEND NORIEGA TO FRANCE.
THIS CASE COULD IMPACT NOT ONLY POWs BEING HELD BY THE U.S., BUT ALSO U.S. SERVICE PERSONNEL CAPTURED OVERSEES.
SOT: Rubino: "But now we ask ourselves what happened when it's the young man who lived next door to you. The young soldier who is somewhere across the world giving his life for our country, might that bad decision that was made in a vacuum, made with the thought well it's ok it's Gen. Noriega, we can do it to him. Now, God forbid some country may do it to one of our young men because we have made these bad laws." (:28)
ON JAN. 14, A THREE-JUDGE PANEL OF THE 11TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS WILL HEAR ORAL ARGUMENTS ON THE EXTRADITION.
"The problem is we live in a political world where law is second to politics." (:04)
IT MAY BE WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS, BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE. SO NORIEGA CONTINUES TO SIT IN PRISON EVEN THOUGH HIS TIME HAS BEEN SERVED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SUZETTE LABOY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, MIAMI
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