The President of Peru, 77-year-old Alejandro Toledo Manrique, has been accused by the U.S. government of taking over $20 million in bribes from a Brazilian construction company. The construction company, according to the U.S., has already admitted to officials that the company was bribing officials to win Latin American contracts for decades. The Peruvian president isn’t the only high-profile individual to be implicated in these crimes, either. The U.S. has also implicated three other Peruvian ex-presidents, too.
In 2019, Toledo was arrested in his home in California. In 2020, he was released from prison as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and was instead sentenced to house arrest.
Recently in April, however, a judge ruled that Toledo should surrender to U.S. Marshalls and return to jail. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether the U.S. will extradite Toledo back to Peru. Toledo is arguing against this type of extradition because he would have to wait in Peruvian prison for at least three years before being charged.
Toledo is in a tough position because the United States would likely be best served by complying with the extradition order to promote good international relations. He is, however, a permanent legal resident in California, and he’d prefer to stay in the U.S.
Can You Fight an International Extradition Request?
If you’re ever accused of committing an international crime, then that country might request your extradition from the United States to that foreign government. If that happens, then you could face criminal charges in a foreign country. You will not necessarily maintain your rights as an American in an international criminal court.
The good news is that you can potentially fight an international extradition request by asking for a hearing on the request. During the hearing, all the evidence regarding your international crime and the reasons for the extradition will be reviewed.
If you have specific reasons for fighting the extradition request, such as your age, health, family obligations, or other reasons, then you should present these during the hearing. There is an opportunity for you to argue your side and possibly prevent the extradition, so it makes the most sense to consult with a lawyer before presenting your case.
If you need international representation, then we can help. Schedule a case review now to discuss your situation in more detail with our best global attorneys.