Jack’s case delayed again

Then it was set for July 18. Then September 26. Now a procedural appeal in relation to the Jack Warner extradition saga is set for November 22, almost five months after its original date.

The procedural appeal relates to moves by officials acting on behalf of the US Government to overturn a ruling by High Court Judge, Justice James Aboud. In June, the judge blanked an attempt by the US to join hearings of Warner’s legal challenge against extradition. Warner, 73, has been wanted in the US for over a year in relation to charges of racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud covering years of football dealings.

A Court of Appeal hearing on the question of the involvement of the US had originally been scheduled for September 26, in the West Court.

However, it has now been pushed back to November 22, according to a notice issued by court officials on August 15. It is the fourth date that has been set in relation to this single aspect of the proceedings.

Originally, hearing of the procedural appeal was expected on July 4. The case was not heard on that date. It was re-scheduled to July 18.

On July 18, all sides asked for a date in the new law term, which resumes next month after its customary vacation period.

Lawyers asked for the new date because they were involved in the UNC election petition matter.

A date of September 26 was therefore set.

The new date of November 22 was later set, lawyers in the case said, because the September date was not convenient to all parties.

Meanwhile, other aspects of the case which could generate further delays are also pending, such as the question of the involvement of expert witnesses.

Warner’s judicial review claim seeks to challenge the authority to proceed, signed last September by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, which gave the Chief Magistrate the go-ahead to begin committal proceedings. His case also questions the legality of the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act, and the treaty signed between this country and the US.

Warner was indicted since May last year by a US grand jury, along with 13 other current or former FIFA officials.

Extradition hearings at the Magistrates Court have been stayed pending the High Court matters.

Warner claims the case against him is politically motivated and accuses the US of acting out of pique because it lost to Qatar in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.