Mozambique Supreme Court begins extradition hearings of Pakistani citizen wanted in the US

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Mozambique Supreme Court begins extradition hearings of Pakistani citizen wanted in the US

10:15 CAT | 06 Mar 2019

Photo: O País

The hearing of the Pakistani citizen wanted by the US justice system for drug trafficking began in the Supreme Court in Maputo on Tuesday, with the presiding judge giving the defence five days to present arguments against the extradition.

Under the protection of National Penitentiary Service special agents, Tanveer Ahmed was taken to the criminal court hearing room of the Supreme Court, where his lawyer Floride Macuácua was waiting for him.

Press were forbidden to take pictures, but STV reported that the session began with Judge Luis Mondlane verifying Tanveer Ahmed’s identity and place of residence in Mozambique, to confirm that he was the same person required by a court in the US state of Texas.

Responding to the court’s questions, the Pakistani national said he was unaware that he was being sought by Interpol and challenged the request for extradition to the United States of America.

Represented by the Deputy Attorney General, the Public Prosecutor’s Office argued that conditions for the extradition request to the United States to be considered had been met.

Amabélia Chuquela said that the crimes of which Tanveer Ahmed stood accused in Texas were also punishable in Mozambique, and that there were indications that the defendant was the perpetrator of the crimes of which he is accused.

In turn, the defence asked for the Pakistani’s release on bail, a request to which the Public Prosecutor’s Office objected.

At the end of the hearing, the presiding judge of the criminal court requested that the National Migration Service be asked within 72 hours for information on the current situation of the Pakistani citizen in Mozambique.

Counsellor Judge Luís Mondlane gave the defence five days to present its grounds for objecting to the extradition.

Tanveer Ahmed will await the decision of the Supreme Court in Maputo’s High Security Penitentiary, where he was taken after being transferred from Mieze Jail in Cabo Delgado. Acquitted by a Pemba court in a drug trafficking case, the Pakistani citizen was re-arrested on 10 January in the same city, following the US extradition request.

By José Macamo

Source: O País