Romanian who says he is a political fugitive to be extradited to homeland

The man, who was sentenced to seven years in jail in his homeland in absentia for blackmail, had claimed that he was a political anti-regime activist who would face persecution if he returned.

ABU DHABI // A Romanian who was convicted of blackmail and fought extradition because he claimed was a political fugitive will be returned to Bucharest to serve his sentence, the Federal Supreme Court has ruled.

The man, jailed for seven years in absentia, claimed that he was a political activist who would face persecution if he went back.

Romanian authorities sent a request to the UAE for his extradition. After his case was investigated by the Federal Appeals Court, it was agreed on May 18 that he be sent home.

The man appealed and said that under article 9 of the international judicial cooperation law that prohibits the extradition of targeted politicians or individuals who are likely to face humiliation or ruthless treatment, he should not be extradited.

The court found the argument “not in its place”, because it had investigated the purpose of the extradition request and it was not political or for the purpose of humiliating or torturing the petitioner.

It also proved that he could not be classified as a politician and was not accused of crimes related to politics. The crimes he was accused of concerned individuals and their private property.

He argued that the verdict contradicted article 13 of the international judicial cooperation law because the extradition order was not translated by an accredited translator, therefore the information it contained was vague.

The court found the argument invalid because it was enough for the documents attached to an extradition order to be stamped by a judicial authority and exchanged through diplomatic channels to be considered accredited.

For these reasons, the court rejected his appeal and he will be extradited.