WASHINGTON, July 22 (RIA Novosti) – A court hearing in case against Russian citizen Roman Seleznev, accused by the American authorities of hacking, most likely will be postponed, New York attorney Ely Goldin told RIA Novosti.
Four motions were presented to the court on July 21, which forced the court to grant the defendants time to file additional material, according to the attorney who spoke with RIA Novosti by phone.
"The motion raises significant legal issues relating to the nature of his illegal arrest in the Republic of the Maldives, and his forcible rendition to the United States, and implicates Seleznev's fundamental rights to due process," the defense motion for additional time says.
In a Motion to Discharge and Release the Defendant pursuant to FRPC 12-B-3A, the defense moves to terminate all prosecution due to what is called “Outrageous Governmental Misconduct,” which is how the defense characterized Mr. Selelzev’s kidnapping from Male International Airport.
In another Motion, the defense presented copies of a purported INTERPOL Red Notice and US statements and press releases of the arrest as well as a copy of the Constitution of the Maldives.
A third motion was also filed in the form of a statement regarding the detention by Seleznev himself in which Seleznev details how he was illegally detained and repeatedly denied access to consular assistance and he was only read his Miranda Rights after three hours of flight time. He also had his property searched without his permission.
A fourth motion by lawyers with the Fox Rothschild law firm supports the Motion to Terminate Prosecution for Outrageous Governmental Misconduct.
A 30-year-old Russian citizen, Roman Seleznev was arrested on July 5, in an airport in the Maldives. Seleznev was taken to the US island of Guam.
US authorities accused Seleznev of hacking into point-of-sale systems at a number of US shops to steal credit card data from customers. The Russian citizen faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of bank fraud, while the other charges also carry significant sentences.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incident an unfriendly move by the US and a de facto kidnapping.
