PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Austin Jack Warner, the former FIFA vice-president, will re-appear in court on July 27 after Chief Magistrate Austin Jack Warner disagreed with a request from the state for the matter to be adjourned to August.

Warner, who had been released on TT$2.5 million (One TT dollar =US$0.16) bail when he made his first court appearance on May 27, is charged with 12 offences related to racketeering, corruption and money laundering allegedly committed in the jurisdiction of the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, dating as far back as 1990.

US law enforcement authorities last month arrested a number of FIFA officials as part of the probe.

When the matter came up for hearing, attorney Allan Newman had made a request for the case to be adjourned to August 10 so as to allow the Attorney General enough time to examine the documents which the United States must submit by July 26.

But Warner’s attorneys argued that it would be unfair to their client to have the matter delayed the time frame stipulated in the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

The Chief Magistrate agreed with the argument and adjourned the matter to July 27; one day after the request for his extradition expires. She said he could then make an application for the matter to be discharged against him.

As he left the court, Warner said very little to reporters.