Hearing against Alex Saab postponed due to COVID-19 concern

Gerardo Reyes referred to Saab as a 'financial jackal' 1:00

(CNN Spanish) -

A judge in Florida, USA, rescheduled for February 16 a hearing prior to the start of the trial against businessman Alex Saab, alleged front man of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, scheduled for this Friday.

This is due to concerns about the rise in covid-19 cases, according to court records consulted this Wednesday by CNN.

"In light of the covid-19 outbreak, if the hearing were to take place on January 7, the defendant would have to remain in quarantine for 14 days after the hearing, which would interfere with his ability to consult with an attorney." , explained this Tuesday in his decision Judge Robert N. Scola Jr.

Saab is being held in a federal prison in Miami, Florida.

According to the protocols for the transfer of prisoners due to the pandemic of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP, for its acronym in English), he must, among other things, undergo a preventive quarantine after the procedure in court.

The change of date for the hearing, which was originally due to take place on January 3, seeks to resolve an appeal imposed by Saab's defense.

Saab's US attorney, Neil M. Schuster, confirmed the date change on Wednesday after being consulted by CNN, although he did not give further details.

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Covid-19 cases have increased in recent weeks in Florida.

According to the latest report published by the state Department of Health, which includes data up to December 30, since the start of the pandemic, 4,166,932 cases and 62,504 deaths related to the virus have been recorded.

Although only in the week between December 24 and 30, the state registered 298,455 infections, that is, 170,269 more cases than in the previous week.

Saab was extradited to the US in mid-October 2021 from Cape Verde.

• Alex Saab will not be released on bail after appearing before a US judge.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) claims he was behind a network of corruption involving CLAP, a government-subsidized food program that allegedly allowed Maduro and his allies to steal hundreds of millions of dollars to the Venezuelan people and at the same time use food as a form of social control.

The Venezuelan government, which classifies Saab as a "diplomat," has accused the US of having kidnapped the Colombian businessman and even abandoned a dialogue table with the opposition that was taking place in Mexico after his extradition to US soil. .

However, just over a month ago, a Florida judge dismissed seven of the eight money laundering charges against Saab, according to court documents.

Saab still faces one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, for which he pleaded not guilty in mid-November.

Alex Saab