“The ambassador is surrounded by soldiers and police who live next door and watch him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These soldiers carry machine guns even when delivering their meals“.
This is one of the parts of a statement made by Álex Saab’s defense, dubbed figurehead of Nicolás Maduro, where they complain about the conditions of his house arrest, a benefit they have been demanding since December: made available to convicted criminals. “
(We invite you to read: Cape Verde issues 5 warnings about the extradition of Álex Saab)
His defense, now calling him emabajdor, says that “ he wants to demonstrate that the circumstances of his house arrest are completely irregular and that they still directly affect his health and right to a defense, and are considerably worse than those granted to drug traffickers convicted in Cape Verde. “
(You may be interested: Alex Saab was transferred to a secret place, heavily guarded) The new complaints come 48 hours after the Supreme Court, which controls his extradition, warned that the trial is in its final stages and that the legal schedule has been met.
This is the Hilton Hotel in Cape Verde where Saab said it would be transferred.
From the Marriot to ‘the fort’
EL TIEMPO had already expected that Saab, prosecuted for a large-scale money laundering operation in connection with the Maduro regime, was suing his home for jail time.
Nearby sources told this newspaper that he pointed out that he was in the presidential suite of the luxurious Marriot Hotel in Cape Verde. And he ended up in a fortress where they don’t take his eyes off him.
(Also: Note: Álex Saab is grounded)
“As for his ability to communicate with his lawyers and his family, the conditions are more limited than those Cape Verde has historically made available to convicted criminals (…) he is prohibited from accessing the internet, he cannot go to your family writing without the correspondence read by the police and, as for your right to privileged conversations with your lawyers, these can only take place with drones flying over the place if
They go to the patio, ”says the defense.
Baltasar Garzón, a former Spanish judge, maintains that Saab has alleged immunity.
Controlled communications and drones
Saab used to be able to call his family every day. Now, according to his defense, the only phone he can use is a police phone. And for the two hours of permitted use of the cell phone, a member of the police force must be present.
“You are prohibited from accessing the Internet, you cannot write to your family without it
That the correspondence is read by the police and, as for their right to have privileged conversations with their lawyers, they can only take place with drones flying over the place as they go to the patio, ”they say.
(Also: What does the US say about Saab being Maduro’s plenipotentiary ambassador?)
In addition, they emphasize that the suspect’s medical care remains uncertain.
“To date, requests to be examined by medical specialists of his choice remain unanswered,” they note.
Nicolás Maduro appointed Saab as his plenipotentiary ambassador to Africa in December in an effort to protect him with alleged immunity.
Diplomat or fugitive?
According to the defense, this is in direct violation of the order of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, but it goes against all current rules of house arrest for an unconvicted and certainly unacceptable to a diplomatic official.
(See all articles of the EL TIEMPO research unit here)
But it is clear to the American justice system that Saab is not a multi-potential ambassador (a position that was granted to him at the last minute), nor does he have any kind of immunity.In fact, a government that is not recognized by more than 60 countries and by the new Biden government cannot claim these kinds of procedural privileges.
In addition, the use of judicial, diplomatic and media mechanisms to liberate Saab confirm that it is a crucial part of the regime. His defense even says he has replaced Maduro, who could not be moved to Iran due to the pandemic.
RESEARCH UNIT
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