Ex-FIFA Vice President, Alfredo Hawit, recently pleaded not guilty in front of a judge in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn. The 64-year-old Honduran stood in front of Magistrate Judge Robert Levy just hours after he was extradited from Switzerland. Hawit faced the judge on corruption charges concerning the world football organization.
Hawit's attorney, Justin Weddle, stood before the judge and entered the plea for his client. During the proceeding, the Honduras native wore a navy blue blazer as he listened to the discussion through a translator. Hawit was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, taking bribes, and other crimes that involved him in a $200 million case. Other than the former FIFA Vice President, over 40 people around the world are also involved in the scandal.
According to indictment, Hawit, along with other executive officials, had allegedly awarded marketing rights to Gold Cup as well as other events. In return, they had asked for hundreds of thousands of dollars to be given to them. In addition to this, Hawit was said to have instructed his other co-defendants to lie and hide the bribes when federal investigators questioned them about it.
As of this writing, the court has not yet set bail conditions for the ex Vice President. Weddle argued for lenient bail conditions citing his client's poor physical condition. While detained in Switzerland, Hawit's diet consisted only of Corn Flakes and Honey, which resulted to him suffering from pancreatitis. The attorney also argued that Hawit was not a "wealthy defendant" and could not "kind of slink away and disappear." Prior to his arrest last month, Hawit had already been suspended from all football-related activities. He was formerly a president of the CONCACAF or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football from June up until he was arrested in Dec. 3, 2015.
As security for a bond, the former vice president had very little assets to offer. The attorney also asked the court if his client can live with his daughter in Miami, to which the judge agreed if Hawit could get co-signers to provide a collateral along with other conditions. The prosecutors asked for a $500,000 security on a $4 million bond. Hawit is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.
