Lyford Cay resident, Viktor Kozeny, was back in court on Thursday fighting extradition to the United States, but he was once again sent back to the maximum-security section of Her Majesty’s Prison.
The U.S. wants Kozeny extradited to face bribery and money laundering charges.
On Thursday, prosecutor Francis Cumberbatch submitted documents from the Americans, which he claimed support their case. Mr. Cumberbatch said those documents prove that Kozeny, who was born in the Czech Republic, violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
But Kozeny’s attorneys insist otherwise, claiming that their client cannot be charged under that particular law, because at the time he was alleged to have committed the crimes the act did not pertain to foreigners, but U.S. citizens only.
Mr. Cumberbatch said the documents he brought to court on Thursday prove that Kozeny continued corrupt practices even after the act was amended in 1998 to include foreigners.
He then went on to list some 32 counts of alleged violations under the amended act.
Magistrate Carolita Bethel adjourned the hearing to 10:30 Friday morning at which time the defense team is expected to respond to the prosecutionﾴs submissions.
The U.S. government alleges that Kozeny and two others bribed officials in the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan to take control of their state-owned oil company.
By Stephen Gay , The Bahama Journal
