Noriega's U.S Prison term ends Sept 9th

750rider · 08-29-2007, 09:01 AM

remember this guy...
iran contra, the whole cia started the crack trade 'conspiracy'

Quote:

Noriega Can Be Extradited to France

MIAMI, Aug. 28 — A federal judge in Miami ruled today that Manuel Antonio Noriega, the former Panamanian general ousted by the American military in 1989, can be extradited to France, where he faces charges of money laundering and up to a decade in prison.

The ruling today by Magistrate Judge William C. Turnoff followed a decision last week by a higher-ranking federal judge that paved the way for Mr. Noriega to face the charges in France once his prison term in the United States ends on Sept. 9

However, the final decision as to whether Mr. Noriega, 73, can be extradited to France lies with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

A lawyer for Mr. Noriega criticized the judge’s ruling and vowed to appeal.

“I can assure this court and everyone else you haven’t heard the end of this,” Frank Rubino, the lawyer, said.

Last Friday, Judge William M. Hoeveler of United States District Court rejected arguments by Mr. Noriega’s lawyers that his status as a prisoner of war in the United States required the Bush administration to return him to Panama. An appeal will keep him in United States custody for some weeks or months.

Mr. Noriega served 15 years for drug trafficking and racketeering, half of a 30-year sentence, because of automatic parole and good behavior.

He was convicted in absentia in France in 1999 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering more than $3 million in drug proceeds. France has agreed to hold a new trial if he is extradited.

He also faces legal problems in Panama, where he was convicted in absentia of embezzlement and corruption, and for ordering the killing of political opponents. Although he faces up to 60 years in prison for those charges, Panamanian law allows older convicts to serve prison time at home.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/us...rssnyt&emc=rss