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Ex-President Toledo affirms he wants to remain in California

Photo: AFP

17:14 | San Francisco (U.S.), Aug. 16.

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) —who faces an extradition process— affirmed to U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson that he has no intention of living anywhere else but California, according to documents accessed by EFE news agency.

Therefore, the ex-Head of State currently tries to show his ties to California in order to be released on bail next week, as Hixson agreed to reconsider his case.

In the documentation provided to the judge, Toledo points out he has lived 32 years in the United States, 24 of them in the western U.S. State.

Likewise, Toledo's new attorney —Graham Archer— informed the ex-President is currently in a solitary cell at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County.

Days ago, Archer provided new financial information and asked the judge to reconsider Toledo's release.

Magistrate Judge Hixson accepted the request and scheduled the new hearing for August 22, at 10:00 AM (local time).

July Audience

Ex-Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) will face his extradition process detained in a U.S. cell, said U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson on July 19.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elise LaPunzina was in charge of supporting the complaint against Toledo and the need for the ex-President to remain detained during the extradition process.

Toledo's attorney was Joseph P. Russoniello on that occasion.

According to Peruvian El Comercio newspaper, LaPunzina indicated the ex-President did not prove that he complies with the special conditions to be released on bond and underlined there is a considerable risk of flight.

Moreover, she stressed that a bag containing at least US$40,000 in cash was found inside Toledo's house when he was detained, adding these funds could be intended for escaping.

After listening to the arguments, U.S. Magistrate Judge Hixson asked if the money found in Toledo's house was intended for escaping.

His wife Eliane Karp —who was born in Europe and became First Lady of Peru (2001-2006)— was also present at the bail hearing.

Later, Karp insulted Peruvian Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group Coordinator Rafael Vela, who travelled from Lima to the Bay Area to attend the event.

According to the Peruvian Prosecutor's Office, Toledo received up to US$35 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to favor it during his presidency (2001-2006) with the concession of the South Interoceanic Highway. With this money, the former president paid mortgages and properties in Peru.

Toledo detained in the U.S.

As is known, former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo was arrested in the United States by an extradition order against him, within the framework of the investigations over alleged corruption offenses in the awarding of the South Interoceanic Highway Project to Brazilian company Odebrecht.

The Peruvian Public Ministry's International Judicial Cooperation and Extraditions Unit (UCJIE) Head Senior Prosecutor Celia Goicochea indicated the detention took place on July 16, 2019, at 6:30 AM (local time) in the State of California.

Goicochea recalled the extradition request was submitted to United States' authorities on May 25, 2018.

After U.S. authorities' questions were addressed, the Department of Justice notified the Public Ministry's UCJIE on July 2 that the arrest order was being prepared in order to extradite the ex-President.

Click here to read the facts of the extradition request against Toledo.

(END) EFE/DTK/MVB

Publicado: 16/8/2019