A US federal court in New York has ordered the extradition of Lebanese businessman George Nader, adviser to the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, to a federal court in the state of Virginia on charges of possessing and transporting child pornography.
Al-Jazeera correspondent in New York reported that the Federal Court warned Nader of trying to escape from the United States under the pretext of his health.
George Nader's lawyer has been trying to ensure that he stays in a private residence or hospital in Virginia because of his health status pending trial.
The lawyer said his client lives in Abu Dhabi and that he was brought to New York from Dubai for treatment after complications from heart surgery in Germany.
The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince was arrested by US authorities on Monday at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and was later charged with possession and promotion of child pornography.
The Washington Post reported that it had seen official documents that a court in Virginia had given Nader possession of sex tapes for children.
Investigators found pornographic films and sex tapes of children on the phone of a Lebanese-American businessman, sources said.
Precedents
Nader has 28 years of criminal record for transmitting child pornography, and his sentence has been commuted after senior figures intervened in court on his behalf on the pretext that he played an important role in releasing US hostages held in Lebanon.
Al-Jazeera correspondent in New York Nasir al-Husseini said the charge against Nader ranged from 15 to 40 years, according to US law.
Nader is an American businessman of Lebanese origin, and his name has recently been associated with the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed Zayed. He was a key witness in the investigations of Robert Mueller on the Russian intervention in the 2016 US presidential election for President Donald Trump.