The legal representative of a Frenchman detained in Morocco who is trying to avoid extradition to the United States, which accuses him of hacking, said on Wednesday that he had asked the UN body to intervene in the case.
In an interview with Agence France Presse, lawyer Philippe Avon, the legal representative of 21-year-old Sebastian Raoul, explained that one of the prison guards showed his client documents indicating an imminent extradition.
Availlon added that he had contacted the United Nations Committee Against Torture to ask it to prevent any extradition of his client, given that the body had prevented many of the extraditions approved by Morocco in recent years, noting that “the committee believes that Moroccan law does not provide adequate protection against the risks of inhuman and degrading treatment.
The lawyer stated that the prison guard notified his client of the deportation decision and transferred it to him.
Although French, Moroccan and US authorities have not confirmed this information, in August the Supreme Court of Morocco gave preliminary permission for the deportation of Raul, AFP reported.
Avaion said his client could face a life sentence in the US if convicted by the US judiciary, so the UN Committee Against Torture should intervene.
According to the lawyer, despite the “116-year” prison term that could be imposed on Raul in the United States, Rabat did not ask for any guarantees.
Availlon called on the Moroccan authorities to suspend the extradition until the position of the UN Commission is announced.
According to Agence France Presse, the final decision on this case is in the hands of the Prime Minister of Morocco.
Raoul was arrested on May 31 in Tangier, northern Morocco, on the basis of a “red notice” issued by Interpol at the request of Washington, as he was about to board a flight to France.
For their part, US authorities report that Raoul is a member of the Shine Hunters group, which Washington accuses of committing “cyber crimes” and suspects of carrying out cyber attacks on large companies, including Microsoft, which Raul denies.
Source: AFP