NEW YORK: Ex-Peru federation president Manuel Burga is not yet off the hook as far as FIFAGate corruption investigators in the United States are concerned writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
Burga was released in December after the one charge laid against him in a joint trial with Brazilian Jose Maria Marin and Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout was deemed not proven after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Marin, former president of the Brazilian CBF, is being held in detention ahead of sentencing on April 4; Napout, ex-president of South American governing body CONMEBOL, will be sentenced on April 9.
Judge Patricia Chen has indicated that both men can expect jail terms after being found guilty on a range of charges concerning bribes paid for the rights to South American football tournaments.
Burga flew home to Peru after the end of the case but US prosecutors have told the court that it maintains a determination to pursue him over further charges.
These concern wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in connection with the Copa Libertadores and charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with bribes for broadcasting and marketing rights to the Copa America and Copa America Centenario.
These were not raised in the December trial because the Peruvian courts had approved Burga’s extradition only on the single charge of conspiracy. The other charges of fraud and money laundering were not recognised because of legal action against him in the domestic courts.
In effect, this means that Burga dare not leave Peru for fear that, if he lands in any other country, the US authorities will seek to have him detained and extradited.
** Julio Rocha, former president of the Nicaraguan football federation, will be sentenced after FIFAGate corruption admissions, on February 2.
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