Ibiza millionaire fights extradition to the US

Ibiza millionaire Fergie Chambers fights extradition to the United States from a Spanish jail: he wants to be freed so he can prepare his defence. The pro-Palestinian activist made his case at Spain’s National Court in Madrid on Monday, 28 September, before judge Antonio Piña. Arrested in July in Eivissa, Ibiza, where he lives, Chambers is now held in Aranjuez prison.

Chambers says Donald Trump’s government is persecuting him, according to legal sources who spoke to Europa Press.

Why Chambers wants to leave jail

Chambers says the case is complex and prison makes it difficult to prepare his defence. He argues that he is not a flight risk: his child attends school in Spain, and his pregnant wife currently lives in Madrid.

He has offered to report to court every day, surrender his passport, wear an electronic ankle tag or pay bail. He has also invoked the principle of speciality: if Spain extradites him, the United States could prosecute him only for offences named when the extradition request was issued.

The allegations he denies

The United States Department of Justice accuses Chambers of involvement in riots, conspiring to promote riots and international money laundering. He denies the allegations. Legal sources say the United States does not directly accuse him of financing terrorism; the department includes an assessment about it in its complaint.

Chambers acknowledges spending 10 million dollars on humanitarian causes in Palestine, including an oven to feed people and hospital projects. He also says he sent more than seven million dollars to Tunisia, where he once lived, to fund a football team. He maintains that both transfers were legal. The source reports no decision on his release or extradition.

Topics: Court cases · Health · Algaida

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com