BELIZE CITY, Fri.Dec. 21, 2018– Since the news broke in early January that the United States has issued an extradition request for Belizean attorney Andrew Bennett, the extradition matter has been slowly making its way through the judicial system and is still at the Magistrate’s Court, where Bennett and his attorney, Anthony Sylvestre, have been attending court.

Bennett was released on bail, after he was first arraigned on the charges stemming from the US extradition request, a 7-point grand jury indictment for money laundering, issued in 2015 in the US District of Puerto Rico.

Yesterday, Thursday, Bennett and his attorney attended another hearing before Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser.

At this morning’s hearing, both sides were scheduled to present oral arguments, which would further develop the written skeleton arguments that have been submitted.

The oral arguments, however, were not presented this morning, because Bennett’s attorney has indicated to the court that they have further objections to file, regarding the so-called “bundle of evidence” that the US authorities sent and are relying on to validate their extradition request against Bennett.

As a result, the US side, represented by the office of Belize’s Solicitor General, was given additional time to file their submissions. They were given until December 28, to make their written submissions, then the parties return to court on January 9, when they will make the oral submissions.

After the court hearing, attorney Sylvestre told reporters, “On the last occasion, we had indicated that we would be making certain objections to the extradition request. So, there were certain timelines that were set for the parties to submit written submissions.”

Sylvestre added, “Our submissions, we did not comply with respect to the date set, so that would have offset the government side from being able to submit their submissions in time. And so, the matter was adjourned, and the oral arguments will now be presented on the 9 January. So, the government has been given an extended period until 28 December for them to file their written submissions, and then we return on the 9 January for oral arguments.”