(CNN Spanish) - The Chilean Supreme Court ratified this Monday the rejection of the extradition request of Carlos Cardoen, a Chilean businessman required by the United States on various charges allegedly linked to the illegal export of zirconium trafficking and falsification of documents.
The US authorities accuse Cardoen of illegally importing artillery-grade zirconium into Chile in the 1980s to use it for a purpose other than that stated, as it is a dual-use metal.
In a unanimous decision of the Second Chamber of the highest court, it was established that the requirements of criminality and dual criminality are not met.
"The treaty signed between Chile and the United States [...] establishes that the extradition will not be appropriate when the prescription has operated in accordance with the legislation of the requested country, that is, in accordance with our legislation," the sentence adds.
In June 2019, when Cardoen had to testify before the Court, the businessman affirmed to the media that he is innocent and that the United States' accusations are "total and absolute falsehood."
Cardoen has been under house arrest in Chile since April 2019.
Extradition