Islas Turcas y Caicos: esperan extradición desde Brasil del ex primer ministro

THE ARRIVAL date of the former Premier, Michael Misick back to the Turks and Caicos Islands is as yet unknown, Governor’s spokesman Neil Smith has announced.

As reported previously by this publication and other news entities around the Caribbean, Misick was to have arrived on Thursday (November 7), but according to Smith this is not the case.

He said the extradition decision has to be gazetted before any action can be taken to return the former Premier and this has not been done yet.

Sources close to the former Premier have stated that efforts were being made to acquire bail from the Special Investigations and Prosecution Team (SIPT) representative in Brazil, but the figure quoted was too high, and as a result these talks fell through.

Information also suggested that Misick had foregone his option to appeal the extradition ruling if reasonable bail was offered to him.

When asked about this, Smith said that Misick is weighing his legal options.

He stated that reports that Misick will not fight his extradition and will return voluntarily to the territory are not completely true as it appears that he does not want to return.

He added that the SIPT is talking to police and other authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands about the security concerns relating to Misick’s arrival.

«We understand this is in the public interest; we will provide what information we can, when we can, but because of the security and various other things it will probably only be a few hours’ notice before he arrives.”

When asked, Smith said that Misick will more than likely be taken straight to Grand Turk.

«The first thing that has to happen to him, because of the Red Notice (international wanted notice) and other things, he has to immediately appear in front of a magistrate to be properly charged,” Smith said.

He added that the Brazilian authorities will first hand the former Premier into the custody of Interpol, and they will then transport him to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Should the former Premier appeal the Brazilian court’s ruling, that hearing will not be heard in 2013, legal minds in the TCI have stated.

Misick was, and continues to be, detained in a Brazilian jail.

The extradition ruling was handed down by the Brazilian Supreme Court last Tuesday, October 29.

He was first arrested on December 7, 2012 by Brazilian police acting on an international arrest warrant.

Misick was released, and later re-arrested by Brazilian authorities on April 13 this year in Sao Paulo, on the authority of a Brazilian Supreme Court judgment. (DI)