Sudan says extradition deal obligates Chad to hand over hijacker

Jan 28, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — In a new development, Sudan said Chad is obligated to hand over the hijacker of a domestic Sudanese passenger plane according to a mutual extradition deal agreed between the two countries.

The justice minister, Mohamed Ali al-Mardi, has said that the agreement to exchange criminals signed in 1965 between Sudan and Chad, makes it an obligation for Chad to hand over Mohamed Abdelatif who is accused of hijacking the passenger plane owned by Air West company.

Last week, Al-Mardi had said Sudan would ask Interpol to hand over the Sudanese national who hijacked the passenger plane. He said this request is due to the fact that there is no extradition agreement between Sudan and Chad.

However it seems that Sudanese officials found legal bases in the 1965 accord.

Speaking to the press Sunday, Al-Mardi said that any failure by Chad on this issue would encourage the ones who commit such acts to continue.

He went on to say that Chad not handing over the suspect contradicts UN and AU accords, as well as international customs and neighbour relations.

The hijacker will face charges of terrorism, threat to passengers’ safety and illegal possessions of arms.

(ST)