|
The decision by Judge Humberto Otazu, which was
seen by Reuters, will be appealed, Leoz's lawyer said.
Leoz, 89, who has been under house arrest since mid-2015, is
being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department along with
other leaders and executives accused of accepting bribes for
broadcast rights and marketing.
Leoz's lawyer, Ricardo Preda, told journalists he would appeal
the decision. Preda said he had not been notified by the court
and argued his client should not be extradited because private
bribery is not a punishable crime in Paraguay.
Otazu said in an official document that a medical board,
including a forensic officer of the judiciary and a doctor
proposed by the defense, should report on Leoz's health status
before his extradition.
Paraguay received the formal request for Leoz's extradition in
July 2015. According to Paraguayan laws, the former sports
leader's age is not a barrier to extradition.
Leoz was in charge of Conmebol for 27 years until he resigned in
2013, blaming health reasons in the midst of an investigation by
the FIFA ethics committee. He also was a member of the FIFA
executive committee for more than a decade.
Otazu's decision comes as the trial begins in New York for Juan
Angel Napout, Leoz's successor as president of Conmebol, the
former president of the Peruvian federation Manual Borga and
former head of the Confederation of Brazilian Football Jose
Maria Marin.
(Reporting by Daniela Desantis; Writing by Cassandra Garrison;
Editing by Bill Trott)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
