LONDON – A UK-based court has ordered the extradition of Abraaj Groupfounder and Pakistani business tycoon Arif Naqvi to the US to face chargesof fraud, money-laundering and racketeering.

Senior judge of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Emma Arbuthnot, issued theorder with a note that safety and rights of the businessman will not be atrisk in the US prison facilities as argued by counsel for Naqvi during thehearing of the extradition cased filed by the US.

It the founder of the Abraaj group is extradited, he could face jail upto300 in the US.

Arif Naqvi, who was present in the court when the order was read out by thejudge, did not talk to media after the verdict, however, his lawyer hasvowed to challenge the ruling in the London High Court.

During the hearing, several expert witnesses also testified before thejudge about the condition of jails in the US where Naqvi would likely to bekept.

An expert, James Troisi was quoted as saying: “There are certainly badapples in the mix of sworn staff.

“There have been instances where sworn staff — either through cowardice orattentiveness — allowed physical altercations to continue without aresponse,” Troisi testified.

“Mr Naqvi will be seen as a man of means and there will be people that willwant him to provide commissary purchases and provide goods if he wants toeat tomorrow,” Geo news reported.

Six other witnesses raised concerns over facilities at the US jails,stating that extraditing the Pakistani businessman to the US would endangerhis life and health.

London police arrested Arif Naq back in April 2019 on a request from the USover allegations of money laundering, racketeering, and fraud. Later, hewas released from custody after meeting bail conditions including thepayment of a 15 million pound security

Naqvi has been strongly protested the disturbingly long, 300-year sentence.