Judge: Alleged cartel bodyguard can't examine torture claim
Associated Press
April 17, 2018
A federal judge says a purported bodyguard for a son of drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman can't fight drug-trafficking charges in Chicago based on allegations authorities in Mexico tortured him while U.S. agents stood by.
The ruling Tuesday in Jesus Raul Beltran-Leon's case rejected defense requests for documents on U.S. law enforcement policy in Mexico.
U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo says misconduct in delivering suspects wasn't necessarily relevant. And prosecutors previously said they're relying on evidence compiled before Beltran-Leon's 2014 interrogation. He was extradited to the U.S. last year.
Beltran-Leon says interrogators used electric shocks and that he once chewed through a plastic bag put over his head to avoid suffocating.
Castillo says his ruling shouldn't be misconstrued as condoning torture. He says a civil court could hear the torture allegations.
1 comment:
Lucky he had buck teeth that could reach that plastic bag.
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