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by Mike Caswell
A New Jersey judge has denied a request by John Bennett, the former chairman of Bennett Environmental Inc., to return to Canada while he awaits trial on criminal bribery charges. Mr. Bennett, 80, had sought to receive medical care in his home country, citing the costs of the U.S. system. He had offered to sign an extradition waiver, but the judge has refused his request.
The denial is contained in a brief order issued on Tuesday, Sept. 1, by New Jersey Judge Cathy Waldor. She did not provide any reasons, but prosecutors had strongly opposed Mr. Bennett's release, citing the efforts that would be required to re-extradite him if he refused to leave Canada. They pointed out that there would be nothing compelling him to return to the U.S. to face the charges.
Prosecutors also cited the already-lengthy delays in the case. Tuesday's order comes just over six years after the U.S. government charged Mr. Bennett for the scheme. In an indictment filed on Aug. 31, 2009, prosecutors claimed that he and others arranged to pay kickbacks to managers of a $250-million government soil cleanup site in New Jersey. (All figures are in U.S. dollars.) Prosecutors said that he was part of a plan to bribe managers with cash payments, a box suite at a Buffalo Sabres game and a 10-day Mediterranean cruise.
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