The United States judge —before whom former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) appealed a previous decision that had denied him bail while his extradition case is resolved— on Wednesday seemed in favor of the ex-president remaining in prison, although he has not made a firm decision yet.
Judge Vince Chhabria of the Northern District of California, based in San Francisco, closed the hearing explaining that he doubts between holding a new hearing —in which the evidence of the defense and that of the Assistant U.S. Attorney on the conditions of the imprisonment of Toledo would be contrasted— or definitely deny him bail.
This way,
Chhabria did no longer put on the table the possibility of Toledo leaving prison immediately (something he could have decided today).
During the session, he seemed —more than once— satisfied with the Assistant U.S. Attorney's attitude, but especially belligerent with the defense.
Suspense
Chhabria was thus referring to his ruling in early October, when —in an unusual move— he decided to grant
bail to Toledo, but immediately put his decision on hold, with the aim of pressuring the Government to remove him from the solitary confinement regime, in which the ex-president was since his detention last July.
Toledo has spent the last two years as fugitive residing in Menlo Park, near San Francisco in the U.S. State of California.