They investigate possible links between the crew member of the Venezuelan plane and Al Quds 2:36
(CNN Spanish) --
Paraguay finalized this Friday the extradition to the United States of Kassen Mohamad Hijazi, a Brazilian citizen of Lebanese origin who had been arrested in a case led by prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, murdered last May in Colombia.
The Public Ministry of Paraguay indicated that Hijazi was arrested in August 2021 in Ciudad del Este, on the Triple Border with Argentina and Brazil.
Colombian justice sentences 4 detainees to 23 years in prison for the murder of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci
The Prosecutor's Office indicated that Hijazi allegedly had placed and stratified funds supposedly from illicit activities, including drug trafficking, through the financial system, generating fraudulent commercial transactions.
Hijazi's defense affirms that he is innocent of the charges and adds that he recommended his client not to appeal the judicial decision to extradite him.
"My recommendation at all times was that it be submitted to the United States justice, where the substance of the matter would be resolved," Eduardo Casenave, Hijazi's lawyer, told the press.
Casenave maintained that in Paraguay his rights were allegedly violated by not listening to him, and that is why he advised him to accept extradition.
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Hijazi is required by the Southern District Court of New York for money laundering and four other charges, the Paraguayan justice reported.
The US Treasury Department announced in August sanctions against Hijazi after his arrest, including the freezing of properties and assets in his name in the US, as well as any company he could be the direct or indirect owner of, among others prohibitions.
CNN is finding out when Hijazi's first appearance in US federal court will be and if she has legal representation in the country.