US blocks bid to extradite FIFA suspect to Nicaragua
August 27, 2015
The United States Department of Justice petitioned Switzerland to give precedence to its extradition request for Julio Rocha over that of his native Nicaragua, Swiss authorities announced on Thursday.
Rocha, a former Development Officer for the international soccer governing body FIFA, is one of 14 soccer and marketing officials wanted in the US to answer charges of bribery, fraud, and racketeering.
"This week the US authorities have asked that the FOJ (Federal Office of Justice) gives priority to their request for Rocha's extradition," Folco Galli of the Swiss Justice Ministry said.
Rocha is one of the seven FIFA staffers arrested during a dawn raid on May 27 in Zürich on US indictments. Six remain in Swiss custody, except Jeffrey Webb, who agreed to be extradited to New York last month.
On August 14, Rocha, the former head of Nicaragua's national soccer association, agreed to an extradition request from his homeland, where he is wanted on money laundering and embezzlement charges over game broadcasting rights.
Swiss authorities are expected to decide in the next two weeks whether to grant the request.
es/jil (AP, Reuters)