Extradition High Court Hearing – Peter Weinzierl v The Government of the United States of America / The Secretary of State for the Home Department

This week Devonshires are representing Mr Peter Weinzierl in the Administrative Court, in his long overdue appeal of Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring’s decision in the Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Weinzierl is facing extradition to the U.S on money laundering charges relating to an Austrian Bank, Meinl Bank AG, and its alleged role in the world’s largest bribery and corruption scandal, involving Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht SA and billions paid in bribes. Mr Weinzierl is accused of using “sham” transactions/companies to funnel more than $170 million through an offshore bank that Meinl Bank AG part owned, Meinl Bank Antigua.

The appeal is particularly complex and multiple grounds are being advanced arguing that the extradition to the U.S. should be denied, not least that the allegations of tax fraud are wrong, and that when transposed there is no equivalent of the indicted offence in English law.

The case has been widely covered by the UK press, most recently by Law360.

Mr Weinzierl is represented by David Pack, Leah Kesby and Michael Lewis of Devonshires; James Lewis KC, Ben Watson KC and Ciju Puthuppally of 3 Raymond Buildings.

For more information please contact David Pack.