Co-accused in former Hong Kong minister Patrick Ho’s US$2.9 million corruption scandal seeks deal with US prosecutors
Former Senegalese foreign minister Cheikh Gadio has been under house arrest and has not been charged or taken to court to plead, even though Ho was indicted last December
While former Hong Kong minister Patrick Ho Chi-ping challenges US authorities’ accusations against him of money laundering and bribery, his co-defendant is trying to strike a deal with prosecutors.
Energy firm executive makes surprise appearance at former Hong Kong minister Patrick Ho’s bail hearing
Prosecutors have postponed Gadio’s plea hearing five times since December, with each application to postpone the procedure only valid for 30 days. Each time, prosecutors said they wanted to “continue the foregoing discussion”.
In March and April’s applications, they added that both sides were trying to “reach a potential disposition”, referring to the final charge or sentence faced by the defendant.
“These discussions have not been completed and we plan to continue,” prosecutors told the New York Southern District Court in their latest application.
“The ends of justice served by the grant of the requested continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and defendant in a speedy trial.”