The Ministry of Justice is to send a second letter to United States authorities asking for more details, as the Government considers the extradition request for west Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

After spending more than a month going over the initial request, local justice officials penned a letter seeking additional information.

That response was received recently but the justice ministry is not satisfied and insists on more details.

Ongoing communications

"The communications continue and, as we speak, there is a formal communication going back to the (US) authorities in response to their response," Daryl Vaz, minister with responsibility for information, told the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House yesterday.

According to Vaz, the latest communication from the justice ministry should be dispatched to the US by today.

Vaz did not provide any details on what is being requested but sources close to the case told The Gleaner that the justice ministry is not satisfied with the information surrounding the nine co-conspirators mentioned in the unsealed indictment against Coke.

According to the sources, the justice ministry requested information on the co-conspirators who are referred to in the indictment only ac 'CC-1' to 'CC-9'.

Right to anonymity

The sources said the Americans responded by pointing to a ruling by the US Supreme Court which states that a confidential informant has the right to anonymity in circumstances where his or her life is in danger.

That doctrine is called the 'personal security exception' and clarified an earlier US Supreme Court ruling that an accused person had the right to know the identity of his or her accusers because of the constitutional right of confrontation.

As a result of the exception. US extradition warrants and grand jury indictments do not need to identify the informants.

Other aspects

It is not yet known if the Jamaica authorities' latest request for additional information will challenge this claim or will examine other aspects of the extradition request.

However, the Government has already declared its commitment to protect the rights of Coke or any other Jamaican whose extradition is requested.

On August 28, the US authorities announced that they had charged Coke with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana and conspiracy to illegally traffic in firearms.

An extradition request for the businessman and political activist was subsequently sent to the Jamaican government.