An appeal by arms dealer Karlheinz Schreiber to stave off extradition to Germany where he faces fraud, forgery, bribery and tax evasion charges linked to a political scandal, was denied Thursday. But he has not given up his relentless legal fight to quash a lower court ruling ordering his extradition.
Canada's Supreme Court "dismissed" the appeal without explanation. Thus, Schreiber "would normally be removed from Canada within 45 days," justice department spokesman Christian Girouard told AFP.
But 15 minutes before Canada's top court rebuffed him, Schreiber "applied to the federal court for a judicial review to (stop) the minister of justice from removing (him) from Canada," Girouard said. So "his extradition will be delayed until the federal court decides whether to hear his appeal," he said. No date has been announced for that decision.
Schreiber has fought a German extradition request since he was first arrested in Canada in August 1999 on a provisional warrant. But he remained free on bail while his case traipsed through the Canadian judiciary. As is usual, he surrendered to Canadian authorities Wednesday night to await the high court's latest decision, and must reapply for bail, Girouard said.
Schreiber faces several charges for his alleged role in a campaign finance scandal involving former German chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democratic Union party and commissions earned for negotiating arms sales.