NSW: Ellison rubber stamped extradition request: Court told

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2006
NSW: Ellison rubber stamped extradition request: Court told

A Sydney court's been told .. federal Justice Minister CHRIS ELLISON simply rubber-stamped
a request to extradite American stock market guru LARRY WILLIAMS to the US.

64-year-old WILLIAMS is wanted by the US Internal Revenue Service .. on charges of
attempting to evade 1.5 million US dollars in taxes between 1999 and 2001.

He's the father of Hollywood actress MICHELLE WILLIAMS and grandfather to MATILDA ..

her one-year-old daughter with Australian film star HEATH LEDGER.

WILLIAMS was arrested on an extradition warrant in May .. after flying into Sydney
ahead of a 24-day lecture tour of Australia and New Zealand.

His barrister ROBERT RICHTER has challenged the validity of the extradition certificate
in the Federal Court in Sydney.

He says Senator ELLISON didn't see a copy of the American warrant for WILLIAMS' arrest
or a copy of an indictment .. simply rubber-stamping the request.

But JAMES RENWICK .. representing the government .. said Senator ELLISON received expert
advice before signing the certificate.

Justice MARGARET STONE adjourned the hearing without indicating when she'd give her
judgement .. but it is expected to be within a few weeks.







Acting on a request from US authorities .. Senator ELLISON issued a certificate allowing
a magistrate to rule on whether WILLIAMS should be extradited.

Mr RICHTER told the court the alleged offence committed in the US had to be one that
could attract a penalty of more than one year in prison .. if committed in Australia.

But he said the US offence of wilfully attempting to evade income tax is not necessarily
equivalent to the Australian offence of dishonest conduct.

Mr RICHTER said the minister couldn't come to an informed opinion on whether the extradition
request was valid .. based on the paperwork presented to him.

WILLIAMS is due to face a four-day extradition hearing in Sydney's Downing Centre Local
Court in March next year .. if his Federal Court challenge is unsuccessful.

AAP RTV smm/klw/rt/bart

KEYWORD: WILLIAMS (SYDNEY)

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