Warris to know fate on Sept 20

Valsayn businessman Farouk Warris will know his fate on September 20, when Justice Carol Gobin will decide if Warris would have to return to the Unites States of America to serve a 17- month sentence  imposed on him 11 years ago. Gobin will rule on a habeas corpus writ which was filed on Warris’ behalf by his attorney Rajiv Persad. The writ was filed after Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls committed Warris to be extradited to the USA. Douglas Mendes SC, leading David West and Neil Byam, instructed by Natasha Rampersad from the Chief State Solicitor’s Department, appeared for the American authorities.

After hearing closing arguments from both sides yesterday, Gobin, sitting in the Port-of-Spain Civil Court, said she would give her ruling on September 20, at 1 pm. In 1993, Warris pleaded guilty before a US court on charges of forgery and was ordered to serve 17 months imprisonment. He failed to surrender to the US authorities, however and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On March 30, 2004, Warris was arrested in Trinidad on a provisional warrant seeking his extradition to the US, where he is considered a fugitive.

After hearing evidence in the extradition proceedings, Mc Nicolls ordered Warris extradited to the US. But before that could happen, Warris filed a writ of habeas corpus on May 21, 2004, challenging Mc Nicolls’ order and asking the High Court to free him. Warris’ application was based on two main grounds; one was that there was insufficient evidence for Mc Nicolls to make such a finding, and the other was that to have him returned in the circumstances would be unjust and oppressive considering the length of time that has elapsed since 1993.