After a long hearing, Peru’s Supreme Court decided to take a vote on the request to extradite former chief of Peruvian Soccer Federation Manuel Burga to the United States, and decision will be made within the next five business days.
Burga —who might be prosecuted for corruption by U.S. courts— claimed he respects justice and reaffirmed he has never committed a crime.
“I am innocent. I have had an impeccable behavior in 173 days of detention,” said Burga —who remains imprisoned at Piedras Gordas prison in Ancon.
The hearing began at 8:30 a.m. at the Supreme Court’s Permanent Criminal Chamber presided over by Javier Villa Stein.
It should be noted Manuel Burga will be released if his extradition to the United States does not take place.
His name came up in the investigation process in November last year, when the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 16 suspects, including some of the highest-ranking and former officials, in the FIFA corruption case.
Some of the noteworthy indictments at that time included the heads of Conmebol and Concacaf —who were detained in Switzerland in the corruption case that has rocked the world soccer organization since May last year.
(END) FBV/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/25/2016