Venezuelan intelligence allegedly gave Antonini USD 1 million

[Bacchus39]

http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/08/13/en_pol_art_venezuelan-intellige_13A1905041.shtml

According to documents filed in Florida District Court
Venezuelan intelligence allegedly gave Antonini USD 1 million


REYES THEIS
EL UNIVERSAL

The Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services (Disip), a Venezuelan intelligence agency, reportedly transferred USD 1 million to Venezuelan-US businessman Guido Antonini Wilson as a bribe for him to conceal the true origin of the suitcase with USD 800,000 that Antonini tried to smuggle in Argentina on August 4, 2007, according to files in the Florida Southern District Court.

Edward Shohat, the defense attorney of Venezuelan defendant Franklin Durán, asked Florida Attorney General to provide some information that he deems relevant to the defendant's allegations. According to Shohat, during a telephone conversation between Antonini and his partner Wladimir Abad, Antonini mentioned a sum of money that the Venezuelan intelligence service allegedly sent to him.

"They told me that the Disip sent USD 2 million, out of which USD 1 million is for me, and they can double the amount," Antonini reportedly told Abad. Antonini Wilson said that defendants Carlos Kauffmann and Durán gave him the information.

Antonini also said, "They told me -and I have some e-mails and SMS messages showing this-, more specifically Carlos (Kauffamann) told me personally 'If you (Antonini) do not take responsibility for this (the unsuccessful attempt at smuggling the cash-filled suitcase in Buenos Aires last year), they (the Venezuelan government) will destroy us."

The aforementioned e-mails and SMS messages are part of the evidence Shohat requested from the prosecution.

Relationship with Abad
In the telephone conversation between Antonini and Abad, their links are confirmed. Sources said that both businessmen have been partners in several companies.

Abad is an airplane pilot and, according to Argentinean daily newspaper La Nación, his name appears in the records of at least 18 Florida-based companies. Abad's businesses are related to the aeronautical sector, and he is also a partner of American Food Grain, a company that was involved last May in an incident when an aircraft of the company was detained by Drug Enforcement (DEA) agents. Daniela Steppa Martin, the wife of one of the directors of the company, and Ricardo Fernández Barruecos, a businessman strongly related to the Venezuelan government, were on board the plane.

[struggle4progress]

1. Curious US won't extradite Antonini to Argentina, whose currency laws were violated

[Zorro]

2. Why do you find it curious?

Antonini is a key witness. It wouldn't be fair for Duran's defense if he was not available.

Whose interest is served by making Antonini unavailable by extraditing him to Argentina?

[struggle4progress]

3. Shame! Your claim is not only inaccurate; it actually makes no sense whatsoever:

US citizen Antonini was detained for a currency violation in Argentina and fled back to the US after being mistakenly released. Argentina requested extradition in August 2007; so far the US has refused; and Antonini is now listed by Interpol. With Antonini in the US, the US began an investigation of the currency transfer into Argentina, even though the underlying issues involve violations of Argentinian (rather than US law). The US arrests of Duran et al, on subsidiary charges (including obstructing the US investigation) finally occurred in December 2007

Thus, there are substantial incoherencies in your claim that Antonini has not been extradited, because he is needed as a witness in Duran's defense: the Argentinian extradition request in August 2007 predates the Duran arrest in December 2007 by many months; and Duran, being charged with attempting to prevent Antonini from cooperating with a US investigation (into a violation of Argentinian law!) is actually expected to be a witness for the prosecution, not for Duran's defense

Alleged Venezuelan agents arrested in U.S.
December 12, 2007 -- Updated 2335 GMT (0735 HKT)
Four alleged Venezuelan agents have been arrested in the U.S. and charged with trying to persuade a U.S. citizen to keep quiet about a growing international election scandal .... on August 31 <2007>, the Argentine judge requested Antonini Wilson's extradition. The request was delivered to the State Department on September 4 <2007> ...
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/12/12/venezuela.argentina/

Don't you get sick of spewing crap?

[Zorro]

4. Do you have English comprehension problems?

If Antonini was sent off to Argentina, then Duran's attorneys wouldn't be able to question him under oath at trial. Do you think it would be fair for Duran's defense if they weren't allowed to question him?

It's obvious the Hugo idolizers would love to see a key witness in this trial prevented from testifying and exposing Saint Hugo as a meddler in the internal affairs of other countries, which they so roundly condemn the US for doing. It's quite a display of hypocrisy at its finest.

Don't you get tired of construing contorted, lame ass arguments defending idiotic and hypocritical positions?

I'm guessing not.

[struggle4progress]

5. Hmmm. My friends and I argued as you do when we were adolescents.

[Zorro]

6. Oh I doubt that

But if true, then being on the losing side of arguments must be quite a familiar position for you.