A US federal judge has scheduled the Jan. 3 trial of Colombian-Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab, alleged figurehead of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is accused in a Miami court of money laundering.
Judge Robert N. Scola Jr., who will be responsible for the trial, said it would take two weeks and will be conducted by a jury. The magistrate also called a preliminary hearing with the parties involved for 28 December.
On the 15th, Saab, 49, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Judge Alicia M. Otazo-Reyes, in the same court.
Earlier this month, Scola dismissed seven charges of money laundering against the defendant, who was extradited from Cape Verde on 16 October.
The lowering of the charges was part of the extradition agreement with the Cape Verdean government, so that if Saab is found guilty, the sentence will not exceed the one he would have received in the African country.
Saab could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of this one count in Miami court, but the sentence could be reduced if he makes a deal with the prosecution, which usually involves denouncing accomplices.
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source https://pledgetimes.com/maduros-alleged-figurehead-to-be-judged-in-miami-in-january/
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