U.S. Fugitive `Kobi' Alexander Wins Extradition Appeal, Namibian Reports

Jacob “Kobi” Alexander won an appeal declaring part of Namibia’s Extradition Act unconstitutional, the Namibian reported, citing a judgment delivered by Windhoek High Court Judge Johan Strydom.

The judge ruled that the Extradition Act in its present form may result in foreigners and Namibians being held in custody for years until their cases are disposed off by the Namibian legal system, the Windhoek-based newspaper said.

The 57-year-old U.S. fugitive lost another part of his appeal when the court ruled that Magistrate Uaatjo Uanivi is the only magistrate who can preside over an extradition hearing that will determine whether Alexander is sent back to the U.S. to face trial, it said. Alexander is scheduled to face another extradition hearing on June 8, it said.

Alexander, an Israeli citizen, was arrested in Namibia in September 2006. He is free on bail while the U.S. seeks his return to face 35 criminal counts related to securities fraud including stock-option backdating. He intends to plead “not guilty” to those charges, according to his original affidavit.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chamwe Kaira in Windhoek via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.