Former Antigua Financial Services Regulator seeks to bar extradition to US

King’s fourth move to avoid trial on charges related to Stanford Ponzi scheme.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday April 11, 2012 – Former Financial Services Regulatory Commission chief, Leroy King, is seeking a review of the warrant ordering his extradition issued by Antigua Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.  King is wanted in the US to face trial on several charges related to the Allen Stanford US$7 billion Ponzi scheme.

The US Government indicted King on over 20 charges including alleged wire, mail and securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In pursuit of King’s fourth bid to bar his extradition, King’s lawyer has filed a constitutional motion in the High Court, seeking a declaration that certain aspects of the Extradition Act are discriminatory and asking for a judicial review of the prime minister’s decision, among others.

The parties named in the motion are Spencer and Attorney General Justin Simon QC.

In the latest challenge, the lawyer noted that sections 12 and 13 of the Act deprive King of the opportunity to appeal a High Court ruling which ordered his committal to be delivered to the US.

About three weeks ago, the Court of Appeal struck down an application to appeal the order.  The decision of the appeal justices hinged on the aforementioned sections of the Act.

Another point made in the motion is that any warrant issued by the prime minister should have been deemed “invalid and unlawful and of no effect so far as it violates King’s right to the protection of the law.”

Should King succeed in his legal challenges, he wants to be ordered legal costs. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)