Native media reported that Leonard Glenn Francis had requested to stay in Venezuela on well being and political grounds.
A fugitive Malaysian defence contractor nicknamed “Fats Leonard” who orchestrated an enormous bribery scheme involving dozens of United States Navy officers, has requested asylum in Venezuela nearly every week after he was arrested within the South American nation.
Leonard Glenn Francis — arrested on September 21 at Caracas worldwide airport as he ready to depart for Russia — appeared in courtroom the day after his arrest and introduced that he wished to stay in Venezuela on medical and political grounds, native media reported on Monday.
Venezuela’s government-allied newspaper Ultimas Noticias, citing judicial sources in its report, mentioned that Francis instructed the courtroom listening to that he wished to enchantment for political asylum and that he was affected by metastatic kidney most cancers.
Agencia Venezuela Information additionally carried the report by Ultimas Noticias, including that Francis instructed the courtroom that he wished to stay in Venezuela and reunite along with his spouse and household.
Por cáncer renal Fats Leonard solicitará asilo político en Venezuela https://t.co/zqObW3AvQ6
— Agencia Venezuela Information (@AgenciaVN_) September 26, 2022
Neither Venezuela’s Info Ministry nor its Legal professional Basic’s Workplace instantly responded to a request for remark.
By regulation, the Venezuelan authorities should think about the asylum request.
Francis fled his dwelling in San Diego, California, on September 4, simply weeks earlier than he was to be sentenced in a bribery case the place he acknowledged overbilling the US Navy by $35m with the assistance of dozens of US naval officers.
Francis admitted to offering prostitutes, luxurious journey, costly meals and cigars, and different bribes to the naval officers who in return directed US Navy ships to ports Francis managed in Southeast Asia.
The proprietor of Singapore-based Glenn Protection Marine Asia Ltd, which provided meals, water and gasoline to naval vessels for many years, Francis pleaded responsible in 2015 and confronted as much as 25 years in jail.
Whereas awaiting sentencing, he was given dwelling confinement in San Diego to obtain medical care as he cooperated with the prosecution, which led to the convictions of 33 of 34 defendants.
After eradicating a GPS ankle monitor and fleeing his dwelling, the US issued an Interpol red-notice request for his arrest which led to his seize in Caracas final week.
Francis had arrived in Venezuela through Mexico and Cuba, and deliberate to proceed on to Russia, Venezuela’s Interpol workplace mentioned in an announcement.
Although US President Joe Biden’s administration doesn't formally recognise Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist authorities, Venezuela and the US have an extradition settlement.
US authorities have 30 days to formally request that he be extradited.
Washington doesn't have an embassy in Venezuela and has imposed crushing sanctions on Caracas, which has additional embittered relations between the 2 nations.
That Maduro may use Francis’ extradition as a bargaining chip to have sanctions decreased or lifted by Washington has been mooted in Venezuela and overseas.
#CaricaturaÚltimaHorapic.twitter.com/xBY51iD0lm
— Agencia Venezuela Information (@AgenciaVN_) September 23, 2022
Agencia Venezuela Information tweeted a cartoon over the weekend depicting Maduro holding a basketball emblazoned with the title “Fats Leonard” over the top of Uncle Sam.
Neither US nor Venezuelan officers have but commented on Francis’s request for asylum.
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