(Montreal) A Colombian threatened with extradition from Canada to the United States for human trafficking after the death of a pregnant Mexican woman, who died while crossing the border, will remain detained for the moment.
Jhader Aguusto Uribe-Tobar appeared in a Montreal court via videoconference, where he was given a new hearing date, set for February 23.
Uribe-Tobar’s lawyer, Luc Trempe, said no bail hearing is planned for his client at this time, likely because the government believes he could pose a flight risk.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York charged Uribe-Tobar, 35, with conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and alien smuggling for financial gain, both of which resulted in the death, in connection with the death of Ana Karen Vasquez-Flores.
Mme Vasquez-Flores, 33, who was pregnant, was found in the Great Chazy River near Champlain, N.Y., on Dec. 14, two days after her husband alerted the Border Patrol to tell them that She wasn’t out of the woods.
US authorities say Uribe-Tobar charged the woman and her husband US$2,500 to guide her by text as she crossed the border alone, and Mr Trempe says the US must submit evidence to substantiate these assertions within 60 days.