At 07:59 10/12/98 -0600, you wrote: >Ajit brings up the question of whether the "Pinochet to Spain" precedent >had not been already amply established by the American hustling of >Panamanian caudillo Manuel Noriega straight from his villa to a Miami >courtroom and thereafter to a Federal prison. >Coincidentally that case is in the news right now. The report below >should clear up all aspects in question for Ajit and others, at least >in terms of conventional reality. > valis _________ Thanks Valis! My apology to Noriega for misspelling his name. Cheers, ajit sinha > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Noriega seeks to trim prison sentence > > MIAMI (December 8, 1998 10:51 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) -- > Former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega asked a federal judge > Tuesday to reduce his 40-year sentence on drug charges in return for > the help he gave U.S. intelligence operations in Latin America while > he was in power. > > "We are not saying that you should forgive him for his drug deal > convictions. We are not saying you should give him a slap on the > wrist," said Noriega's attorney Frank Rubino. "What we are saying to > you is that you gave him a hefty sentence. Now mete out justice with > mercy." > > Noriega, 63, who was convicted in April 1992 on money laundering and > drug trafficking charges, wants his sentence to be cut back to no more > than 15 years and a chance to go back to Panama. Noriega could go free > in 2005 if the request is granted. > > Noriega, jailed in 1990, is now eligible for parole in 2013. > > A former CIA agent, a retired U.S. ambassador to Panama and a retired > adviser on Latin American affairs testified on Noriega's behalf, > calling his work with the United States crucial to the nation's > foreign policy objectives in South America in the 1980s. > > Noriega brokered deals with South American leaders, acted as a liaison > to Cuban President Fidel Castro, provided details on guerrilla and > terrorist activities and even gave the former Shah of Iran a safe > haven, said Donald Winters, retired chief of CIA operations in Panama. > > "These were specific instances when the U.S. government worked through > Gen. Noriega. These were major, major considerations," Winters said. > > But Prosecutor Guy Lewis said Noriega allowed his country to become a > way station for trafficking, a safe haven for drug dealers and a > safe banking capital for laundering drug money. > > "He's an international drug trafficker and money launderer of > unequaled proportions," Lewis said. "Good works are commendable. But > they are not the basis for (a jail departure)." > > U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler could take weeks to rule on > Noriega's request. > > By PATRICIA MALDONADO, Associated Press Writer > _________________________________________________________________ > > Copyright © 1998 Nando Media > > > >
