Alex Saab’s defense appeared this Wednesday before a hearing at the Court of Appeals in Atlanta (Georgia) to try to prove the alleged diplomatic status of the Colombian businessmanwho is on trial in the United States on money laundering charges.
According to information released in Twitter journalist Roberto Deniz, the decision on Saab’s alleged status as a diplomat will not be known today. It is even possible that he will go to the district court of Judge Robert N. Scola, who is handling the case for money laundering.
David Rivkin, Saab’s lawyer, took refuge in treaties such as the Vienna Convention to try to claim that the businessman had diplomatic immunity when he was arrested in Cape Verde on an order issued by the United States.
“It will be interesting to see how he explains that even before the indictment, in 2019, Saab was negotiating with the DEA, as court documents in the case showed,” added the journalist, exiled in Colombia.
The businessman faces a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, for which he pleaded not guilty on November 15 before Judge Alicia M. Otazo-Reyes.
In February, it emerged from court documents in the case that Saab proactively cooperated with the United States for a year over its illicit activities and contracts with the Venezuelan government.
The start of the trial is scheduled for October 11.
Before, on June 10, a hearing of the case will be held.
Alex Saab case: The hearing before the appeals court ended in which his lawyer, David Rivkin, made efforts to demonstrate the alleged diplomatic status of Nicolás Maduro’s favorite contractor. The judge’s decision will not be known today
— Roberto Deniz (@robertodeniz) April 6, 2022
