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