DIP NOTE DELIVERED: EXPULSION OF PEREZ AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000552

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JUHNTER),L/LEI (DBUCHHOLZ)
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR OIA (PPETTY/KLATIMER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: CJAN PINR CASC PREL CPAS CVIS KCRM SNAR SL
SUBJECT: DIP NOTE DELIVERED: EXPULSION OF PEREZ AND
QUINTANA-PEREZ

REF: A. STATE 117985

B. STATE 117989

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/)


1. (C) Ambassador personally delivered diplomatic note
(reftels A/B) to Foreign Minister Zainab Bangura on November
24, reiterating that the U.S. Government is prepared to
remove two indicted individuals with President Koroma's
permission. Ambassador reminded Bangura that cases against
the other foreign-born accused have yet to yield enough fruit
for indictments, and thus the USG cannot request their
expulsion at this time. It is our hope, stated the
Ambassador, that Perez and Quintana-Perez will have
sufficient information for further indictments, but we will
not know that until they are expelled to the U.S. and deposed.


2. (C) Bangura expressed that President Koroma is "stubborn,"
and is still clinging to the idea of all foreign-born accused
expelled to the U.S. at once. The Foreign Minister said that
he fully understands the legalities of the situation (Note:
Given his stance, it seems unlikely that he does. End Note.).
According to Bangura, the President wants a "new" offer from
the U.S., though she did not specify what that new offer
should include.


3. (C) COMMENT: Reticence on the side of the GoSL to part
with these individuals is not wholly unexpected, given
Koroma's previous stated interests, but the motivation
behind it continues to be unclear. Ambassador offered full
cover to Koroma to protect his political interests, but this
seems to be insufficient to garner expulsions by the Head of
State. Post will continue to monitor the situation, but
suggests a further DEA mission explaining, e.g., the recent
situation in Togo, may help to gain traction. End comment.
PERRY