Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1823
2008-12-02 16:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

BELGIUM:TRABELSI EXTRADITION UPDATE

Tags:  PTER CJAN CVIS KCRM BE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4117
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHBS #1823 3371645
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 021645Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8281
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 0477
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001823 

SIPDIS

STATE PASS L, S/CT, AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2018
TAGS: PTER CJAN CVIS KCRM BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM:TRABELSI EXTRADITION UPDATE

REF: SECSTATE 1788

Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Richard Eason for reasons 1
.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001823

SIPDIS

STATE PASS L, S/CT, AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2018
TAGS: PTER CJAN CVIS KCRM BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM:TRABELSI EXTRADITION UPDATE

REF: SECSTATE 1788

Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Richard Eason for reasons 1
.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) The Belgian MOJ advised Post November 27 that if
everything goes smoothly, the GOB may have a
final decision on the extradition of Nizar Trabelsi's by the
end of the summer.


2. (C) Summary of Case for internal use only: Lieve Pellens,
Federal Prosecuting Office spokesperson, confirmed November
27 that the American authorities have filed a request to
extradite Nizar Trabelsi. The United States extradition
request for Trabelsi concerns Trabelsi's terrorist activities
aimed at harming United States citizens and United States
property in the context of an Al Qaeda conspiracy and
concerns conduct other than that for which he was previously
convicted in Belgium. In 2004, Trabelsi was convicted in
Brussels and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for planning
an attack on the Klein Brogel Air Base. On November 19,
2008, the Nivelles Chamber of Indictment court ordered the
continued detention of Trabelsi based on the U.S. arrest
warrant that is the basis of the U.S. request for
extradition. Specifically, the court verified the general
conditions for the extradition. The court found that
Trabelsi is not a Belgian national, the offenses alleged in
the U.S. extradition are also offenses under Belgian law, and
that at least some of the facts alleged are different than
those for which Trabelsi was prosecuted and convicted in
Belgium. Trabelsi has appealed the Nivelles court's judgment
to the Court of Appeals in Brussels. If the Court of Appeals
finds that Trabelsi is extraditable to the United States, it
is likely that Trabelsi will appeal that decision to the
Supreme Court of Belgium. The appeal to the Supreme Court is
limited to legal issues. Once the Supreme Court rules on the
extradition, the Court of Appeals will issue an advisory
decision to the Minister of Justice. The Minister will
review the advisory decision and then issue a decision
regarding extradition. The Minister is not obligated to
follow the advice of the Court of Appeals. End Summary.

FOX
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