Britain clears extradition of al-Qaeda suspect

29 October 2004

LONDON – A Spanish attempt to extradite a man wanted for allegedly supporting an al-Qaeda cell can go ahead, a British judge ruled on Friday.

Hedi Ben Youssef Boudhiba, a Tunisian national arrested in Britain in August, had lodged an appeal through his lawyers against Madrid’s extradition request.

However Judge Daphne Wickham overruled the objections on Friday, telling Boudhiba – who appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court in London via video link from prison – that the alleged conspiracy to supply money for terrorist purposes was covered by extradition regulations.

“I therefore decide the question of whether the offences specified are extradition offences in the affirmative,” she said.

The Tunisian was arrested in Liverpool, northern England, following the issue of an international arrest warrant by Spanish anti-terrorist judge Baltazar Garzon.

The court heard earlier that the 44-year-old belonged to a Spanish-based cell which provided financial support for Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network and other terror organisations.

If extradited, he faces 15 years in jail.

The extradition case was adjourned until 10 December for further defence submissions.
  
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news