Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Hong Kong judge to hear extradition case of drug suspect (4:32 p.m.)
By Benjamin B. Pulta
A SPECIAL Administrative Region (SAR) magistrate has scheduled a formal trial into the extradition case of suspected drug lord Calvin de Jesus Tan in Hong Kong, justice officials said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., said a Hong Kong magistrate has scheduled March 9, as the date for the formal hearings into the Philippine government's request for Tan to be sent back to Manila to face his narcotics-related indictment.
"From the report I received, I feel it is quite a positive development." Gonzalez said Wednesday.
The report came from Justice Undersecretary Ernesto Pineda, who led a task force of state lawyers in Hong Kong, seeking Tan's transfer back to the Philippines to face charges in connection with his alleged involvement in a large-scale shabu manufacturing plant uncovered in Cebu province.
Justice officials have at least two witnesses against Tan, which sources say may possibly be among those which had been nabbed by law enforcers during the raid Mandaue City, Cebu. |
