Businessmen Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, who are wanted by US prosecutors as part of the FIFA bribery investigation which has shaken the world of football, this morning turned themselves in to authorities and are currently detained on multiple corruption charges.
Hugo Jinkis and his son Mariano were among 14 current and former FIFA officials and corporate executives indicted in the United States last month on charges of racketeering and corruption that shocked many in the soccer world.
«They have presented themselves to the authorities, in line with the law,» Hugo Jinkis’ lawyer Jorge Anzorreguy told reporters.
The two were taken to a police station in Buenos Aires after turning themselves in at a local court. Later, and despite a request from 70-year-old Hugo to be placed under house arrest, authorities moved the father and son to the Madariaga penal facility in the City. Footage released on local television later showed them escorted by police personnel to the jail, in a joint operation with Interpol.
On Tuesday, the Jinkis’ had seen their petition to be kept out of custody while the extradition was arranged rejected by a federal court. The Federal Chamber dismissed by majority decision the plea from the pair, who at that time were still officially fugitives while lawyers negotiated with legal authorities over the terms of an eventual surrender.
US prosecutors say the two, together with former television executive Alejandro Burzaco, conspired to win and keep lucrative media rights contracts from regional soccer by paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes.
Burzaco surrendered to police in northern Italy last week.
Only one of the 14 people indicted in the United States still remains at large. A lawyer for the suspect, Brazilian broadcast executive Jose Margulies, said earlier this week that he had returned to Brazil and was preparing to fight extradition.
The AFIP has denounced all three suspects for «tax evasion, illicit fiscal association and money laundering.»
Burzaco was president of television production giant Torneos when he was charged. Hugo and Mariano Jinkis are controlling principals of Full Play, another sports media and marketing business headquartered in Argentina.
The three are accused of negotiating, via the Uruguayan-based company Datisa, a deal which included a reputed 100 million dollars in bribes to win the television rights to the 2015 Copa America and the following three editions of the tournament. That sum was to be shared out between the Conmebol president, the heads of the Argentine and Brazilian FA’s; and in a smaller proportion to each of the other chiefs of the local federations.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald