Sofia’s court of appeal, Bulgaria’s highest legal body, has delayed an appeal verdict in John Kim’s extradition to the United States until December 17 because of lack of proof.
Judge Kety Markova said, “American authorities have so far not given any proof for the crimes Kim is supposed to have committed. To make a decision, the court must have proof confirming the accused has committed a crime under Bulgarian law”.
Kim’s lawyers are expected to ask that their client be released on bail.
Kim, the son of International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president Kim Un-yong, is suspected of fraud during Salt Lake City’s bid for the Summer Olympic Games. The trial of the two bid leaders, Tom Welch and Dave Johnson, is now underway. The two men have been charged with bribing IOC members.
Meanwhile earlier this week, in an interview from Sofia Cental prison with the Bulgarian newspaper the Standard, Kim said he had already contacted the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg and the International Criminal Court at the Hague.
He said, “I am being held for something I did not do”. He added that he expected to start legal proceedings against Bulgaria and the USA”.
