Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura Magistrate Uatjo Uanivi today released former Comverse chairman and CEO Kobi Alexander on 10 million Namibian dollars ($1.3 million) bail. Katatura is outside the Namibian capital of Windoek. Under the terms of the bail, Alexander may not leave Namibia without the permission of Namibia’s chief of police. He must also report to the Windoek police every Monday and Friday.
Magistrate Uanivi ruled that the arguments presented by the US were insufficient for denying bail, and said that the statements by the FBI investigator and other evidence presented to the court did not constitute solid proof. He added that Alexander was not a US citizen, but an Israeli citizen, and treated him as such.
In response to a question by “Globes” about the first thing he would do once released from jail, Alexander said, “I’m going to hug my wife, Hannah.”
After yesterday’s court hearing, Alexander told correspondents that he would plead “not guilty” if put on trial in the US.
Alexander was arrested on Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year’s) eve in late September after a manhunt by Interpol and US law enforcement authorities. He is accused of backdating Comverse options.
There is no extradition treaty between the US and Namibia, but US federal prosecutors in New York said a special agreement had been reached for Alexander’s extradition to the US. The US will now prepare an extradition request for him.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on October 3, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006