2007年VOA标准英语-Noriega Lawyers Vow to Challenge Ruling Orderin

By Brian Wagner
Miami
28 August 2007

A U.S. judge Monday approved the extradition¹ of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega to face money laundering² charges in France. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports that Noriega's lawyers have vowed³ to challenge the ruling and press for Noriega to be returned home to Panama when he is released from a U.S. prison next month.

Frank Rubino, left, and Jon May, lawyers for former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, talk to reporters Monday, 13 Aug. 2007 in Miami

The federal judge in Miami agreed to the French request and said he will issue a formal order of extradition for former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega on Wednesday. The ruling from Magistrate⁴ William Turnoff is expected to be forwarded to the U.S. State Department, which must give final approval to the extradition.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said officials will respond to the extradition request when it is processed later this week. "The administration has been supportive of this request from the government of France for extradition, so if in fact that is the decision the judge has rendered, I would not expect that this building or any other part of the executive branch would oppose it," he said.

A French court already has issued a 10-year prison term against Noriega on charges of using more than three million dollars in alleged⁵ drug money to buy luxurious⁶ apartments in Paris. French officials say the 73-year-old will receive a new trial if extradited.

Noriega is set to be released from a U.S. prison on September 9th, after serving 17 years of a drug and racketeering sentence.

An attorney for Noriega, John May, rejected the latest court decision and said he will likely appeal. His lawyers have argued that, under the Geneva Conventions, Noriega should be returned home because he was declared a prisoner of war after his seizure⁷ by U.S. troops during an invasion of the Central American nation in 1990.

In his ruling Tuesday, the judge rejected the claims and backed a separate court's ruling last week, which said the Geneva Conventions do not protect individuals from prosecution⁸ in other countries.

Noriega's attorneys have criticized Panama's government for failing to pursue its claim to extradite the 73-year-old former leader to face charges of corruption⁹, embezzlement¹⁰ and murder.

Panamanian lawmaker Mayra Zúñiga, who was in Miami for the latest ruling, said she was disappointed that Noriega will not be sent home for trial. She says Panama's government is partly to blame for allowing the French extradition claim to prevail. "Zúñiga said the government is praying that Noriega will be taken to France, because his return could embarrass officials as the prepare for ruling party elections and general elections next May," she said.

Panamanian officials have said they filed several extradition claims in the United States to make Noriega face a criminal trial at home.

1 extradition   

n.引渡（逃犯）

参考例句：

• The smuggler is in prison tonight,awaiting extradition to Britain.这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
• He began to trouble concerning the extradition laws.他开始费尽心思地去想关于引渡法的问题。

2 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

7 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

8 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 embezzlement   

n.盗用，贪污

参考例句：

• He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
• The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。