London – Setback for Fugitives Bid to Stay

London – A father of seven has lost the first round of a battle against extradition to America for a 20-year-old crime he claims he did not commit.

American-born Tuvia Stern, 45, from the Satmar community, was arrested in December as he tried to leave Britain to return to his home in Brazil.
He told City of Westminster magistrates' that the attempt by the US authorities to force him back to New York, to face trial for fraud was an abuse of the British legal process, as was reported here at Vos Iz Neias.

But Judge Timothy Workman threw out the claim, and he will send the case to the Home Secretary to expedite the extradition.

Jonathan Goldberg QC, leading counsel for Mr Stern, said: "We are now studying the judgment carefully with a view to launching an appeal to the High Court." [thejc]