Portuguese Court Demands CIA Agent Extradition to Italy for Rendition Crime

[MikeWB]

A Portuguese court of appeals has ordered the extradition of a former CIA officer who was convicted in absentia for her alleged role in the rendition of a suspected terrorist.

Jack Straw, Britain's former foreign secretary
© AP Photo/ Dave Thompson
UK's Straw Trying to 'Re-Write History' Over British Rendition Complicity
Sabrina De Sousa could face four years in jail.

The dual American and Portuguese citizen traveled to Lisbon in April with her husband. When she attempted to fly to the Indian state of Goa to visit her ailing mother in October, she set off a travel-alert indicating she was wanted in Italy. Authorities then arrested her and seized the dual citizen's American and Portuguese passports.

De Sousa was charged in 2005 for her alleged role in the kidnapping of suspected terrorist and Egyptian cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar. More than 20 other Americans including CIA officials were also convicted in the operation.

After Omar's release, the cleric said he had been snatched off the streets of Milan after leaving his apartment on Feb. 17, 2003. He said he was thrown into a van, and flown to Egypt where he underwent torture including beatings and electrocution.

Judge Sergio Silocchi reads the sentence of the appeal trial on a CIA-led kidnapping of an Egyptian terror suspect, Muslim cleric Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, at the Milan's court, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010.
© AP Photo/ Luca Bruno
Italy Denies Role in CIA Plot to Abduct Egyptian Imam
At the time, De Sousa was registered in Italy as a State Department official at the U.S. Consulate in Milan. However, she was actually a CIA officer.

She maintains that she was chaperoning her son's ski trip the day Omar was taken. She also says the operation was approved and carried out by higher-ranking CIA officials, who had the backing of Italy's intelligence community.

She admits she was a translator for the team that led the capture and coordinated with Italian authorities.

Following her charges, De Sousa sued the CIA and the Justice Department for not invoking diplomatic immunity on her behalf. Later in 2009, 23 Americans also were convicted by Italian courts in absentia. None has served prison terms.

During an interview Friday with the Washington Post, De Sousa said she plans to appeal the ruling to Portugal's Supreme Court.

"I am really shocked," De Sousa told the Post. "From what I understood, extradition was off the table because it was a trial in absentia. I was not served or told of the charges against me and had zero opportunity to defend myself adequately because the U.S. did not acknowledge the rendition took place and the evidence was classified. Italy also covered all pertinent evidence with 'state secrets.'"
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160116/1033259623/portuguese-court-demands-cia-agent-extradited-italy-rendition-crime.html

[yankeedoodle]

This is very interesting.

Firstly, because the CIA and State Department didn't protect this agent with diplomatic immunity.

And, secondly, the people in Italy will really really REALLY want to get their hands on her, because of the case of American Amanda Knox, who they think is escaping justice.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/30/amanda-knox-court-verdict-italy-appeal/5049041/

[MikeWB]

That whole case is fascinating. If you haven't seen this video explaining how Italians figured out who was behind this kidnaping, watch this:

CIA ain't what it used to be.

Also, is it me or does it feel like the US power is waining? 10 years ago, you'd never have incidents like this happening. European countries would not dare arrest CIA spies.

[yankeedoodle]

She says she sued the CIA and the State Department, so, do you think that, perhaps, the CIA and State Dept. might like to see her suffer?

Remember the agent who murdered two Pakistanis, and got arrested, and got released a few months later, after, apparently, some money was paid?  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/16/cia-agent-released-pakistan

Think the CIA and State Dept. will do much to help her?