Barlavento Court, Cape Verde, approves extradition of Alex Saab to the US

The implications of Alex Saab's capture for Maduro 2:20

(CNN Spanish) - The defense of the Colombian businessman Alex Saab, said to be a figurehead of the questioned President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro, reported in a statement that they were formally notified of the decision of the Barlavento Court to approve the extradition of Saab and his delivery to U.S.

In the brief, signed by the lawyers of the Colombian businessman Baltasar Garzón, Martha Rutsel Silvestre and José Manuel Pinto Monteiro, they described the decision as "arbitrary, without legal support and with absolute lack of motivation." In addition, they qualify the United States as a “persecuting agent for political reasons” and consider that the decision was based exclusively on the prosecutors' allegations, which is why they classify the process as disruptive of the internal and international legal order, humanitarian law and human rights.

They note that the decision was informed to them when Saab, whom they call Venezuela's special envoy, was waiting for a date to testify before the Court in his defense. They assure that, in this sense, their right was violated in that instance.

Saab's defense informed that he will appeal this decision to the Supreme Court within the prescribed ten days and that, in the event that it fails, an application for amparo will be presented to the Constitutional Court.

CNN tried to contact Cape Verde authorities to find out the official version, but for the moment they did not respond.

As reported to CNN by the International Legal Office for Cooperation and Development (Ilocad), founded and directed by Baltasar Garzón, Saab was detained in Cape Verde while on mission as a special envoy from Venezuela to acquire humanitarian resources in great need in middle of the covid-19. Faced with the accusations made by the United States, Ilocad confirmed to CNN that Saab is absolutely convinced of his innocence and of not having committed any crime, much less in the United States, Cape Verde or Venezuela.

Jorge Luis Pérez Valery collaborated with this report