(13 Aug 2007) EM4518
HEADLINE:
Lawyers argue over where to send Noriega
CAPTION:
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega appeared in federal court Monday as attorneys argued over where he should be sent when he finishes his drug and racketeering sentence in a Miami prison next month. (Aug. 13) 2007
16:55:51
00:02:30
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
BEFORE THE SAME JUDGE WHO PRESIDED OVER HIS U-S DRUGS AND RACKETEERING TRIAL 15 YEARS AGO, FORMER PANAMANIAN DICTATOR MANUEL NORIEGA IS TRYING TO AVOID EXTRADITION TO FRANCE, WHERE HE FACES TRIAL
ON OTHER MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES.
NORIEGA, NOW AGE 72 HAS BEEN IN THIS FEDERAL PRISON HERE SINCE HIS 1992
CONVICTION - BUT IS DUE TO BE RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER.
HE WANTS TO GO BACK TO PANAMA. HIS LAWYERS SAY BECAUSE NORIEGA IS A PRISONER OF WAR, PANAMA IS THE ONLY PLACE HE CAN BE SENT
SOT JOHN MAY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, In fact, the Geneva convention says exactly what we say it does. In article 118, it requires that Gen. Noriega be immediately be repatriated to Panama
BUT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TOLD JUDGE WILLIAM HOEVELER THAT IF NORIEGA IS SENT TO PANAMA, FRANCE WILL NEVER GET ITS CHANCE TO TRY HIM.
IN COURT JUDGE HOEVELER QUESTIONED THAT POSITION -- NOTING THAT NORIEGA FACES MURDER CHARGES IN PANAMA -- MORE SERIOUS THAN THE FRENCH MONEY LAUNDERING:
SOT JON MAY There is something very political going on
JUDGE HOEVELER SAYS HE ISSUE A RULING LATER THIS MONTH.
STORYLINE
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