Trinidad blocks extradition of ex-FIFA's Warner

"PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad -- Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner won a decade-long court battle on Tuesday against being extradited to the U.S. to face corruption charges in a bribery scandal involving football's world governing body. Trinidad and Tobago 's high court permanently stayed extradition proceedings against Warner, 82, who faces racketeering and bribery charges in the United States. Warner was one of 14 people named in a 47-count indictment by U.S. authorities in May 2015. He had been fighting extradition since."

"In November 2022, the London court dismissed Warner's appeal against extradition, effectively clearing the way for him to be sent to the U.S. However, on Sept. 12, Warner's defense attorneys argued there was no formal extradition agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S. An attorney for the state, who recently took over the case, did not oppose the argument. On Tuesday, Justice Karen Reid ruled that the extradition proceedings were flawed, due to the absence of an official extradition agreement."

"Following the ruling, Warner told The Associated Press that he felt vindicated and that justice had been served. "I could never get back the lost reputation, which has happened to me," Warner said. "My life can now begin afresh, but it's 10 years too late." Warner has faced numerous corruption allegations stemming from his time in FIFA. In 2020, a U.S. Department of Justice indictment accused Warner of receiving $5 million in bribery payments to vote for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup,"

Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner successfully prevented extradition to the U.S. after Trinidad and Tobago's high court permanently stayed extradition proceedings. Warner faces racketeering and bribery charges tied to a 47-count U.S. indictment from May 2015 and had fought extradition for a decade. The case reached the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, which dismissed his appeal in November 2022. Defense attorneys later argued there was no formal extradition agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S., an argument the state did not oppose, and Justice Karen Reid ruled the proceedings flawed. Warner denies wrongdoing and said the ruling vindicated him despite reputational damage.

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