Former Peru football chief Burga cleared of corruption charges
New York: Former Peru football chief Manuel Burga has been acquitted of corruption charges by a jury in the United States.
The 60-year-old on Tuesday was found not guilty of racketeering, just days after the same jury delivered guilty verdicts on multiple charges against two other former officials, Juan Napout of Paraguay and Jose Maria Marin of Brazil, reports Xinhua news agency.
US prosecutors have indicted dozens of Latin American football officials as part of a corruption crackdown that has reached the highest levels of world football governing body FIFA.
In October, former Guatemalan football federation head Hector Trujillo was the first person to be sentenced as part of the probe. He received an eight-month jail term after pleading guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy.
Burga, once a FIFA development executive, served as the president of the Peruvian football federation for 12 years until 2014.
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'Strong evidence' available against Saif attacker, police tell court while opposing his bail plea
Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI): Police have opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan with a knife and injuring him at his home here in January this year, telling a Mumbai court there was "strong evidence" against the accused.
Citing a Forensic Science Laboratory report, police reiterated before the sessions court their earlier claim knife fragments that got lodged near the actor's spine during the attack as well as a part found at the crime spot have matched with the weapon recovered from the accused, Shariful Islam.
These three pieces were part of the same weapon (knife) used to attack the filmstar, the police said in a written response to the accused's plea submitted in the court on Thursday (July 24).
Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 during a robbery attempt.
The 54-year-old actor underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a piece of knife that got lodged near his spine during the attack. He was discharged from the private hospital after five days.
Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days later for allegedly stabbing Khan.
The police, in their response, highlighted that the accused is a Bangladeshi citizen residing illegally in India.
If granted bail, there was a possibility that he may flee India and not appear before the court during the trial. The crime committed by the accused is of a "very serious nature, and strong evidence" is available against him, they argued.
In his bail plea, filed through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and had no prior criminal record.
Investigation into the case has practically concluded with only the filing of a chargesheet pending, the accused contended while seeking bail.
The alleged attacker has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass, robbery and dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous injury.
