The Chairman of the Supreme land court of Vienna (Austria) explained its decision to permit extradition of the Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash.
As the judge explained, the United States has produced documents on the basis of which the court considers that it can be assumed that the accused could have committed the crime. First of all, it is the testimony of two witnesses – Indian officials about “rebuilding the pockets of employees.”
“These readings are sufficient for the court to make a decision about the extradition of the accused to establish his guilt or innocence in a country that has requested extradition”, – he said.
The judge added that if there are differences in the testimony of witnesses, as stated by the defense the accused, the court must give an opportunity to investigate it in the United States.
“We are not investigating the case. It is not within our competence”, – he stressed.
According to the President of the court, many of the comments of lawyers of the defendant cannot be taken, as they relate to the essence of the case, and the court does not investigate the essence.
“Even if we are talking about the attempt to bribe, not the bribe, for the attempt is also punishable in the United States and in Austria,” he said.
As reported, a court in Austria has allowed the extradition of Firtash in the USA.
We will remind, the Chairman of the Council of Group DF Group of companies Dmitry Firtash was arrested in Austria on March 12, 2014 at the request of U.S. authorities. In the warrant for the arrest of U.S. businessman accused of bribing Indian politicians with the purpose of obtaining valuable mining licenses of iron ore mineral oxide ilmenite.
The Vienna regional court for criminal cases elected him a measure of restraint in the form of the extradition arrest, but agreed to release on bail of 125 million euros and the obligation not to leave Austria.
April 30, 2015, the same court rejected the request of the U.S. justice Department on the extradition of Firtash to America.
A businessman at the end of the trial for his extradition to the US, told reporters in Vienna on intentions to return to Ukraine. At the same time, then he could not specify the timing of the return, citing procedural issues.
