Extradition

Extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (MLA) are two essential forms of international cooperation. The extradition process involves the surrendering by one state, at the request of another, of a person who is accused of or has been sentenced for a crime committed within the jurisdiction of the requesting state. MLA is a formal process to obtain and [Page 282]provide assistance in gathering evidence for use in criminal cases, to transfer criminal proceedings to another state, or to execute foreign criminal sentences. In some cases, MLA can also be used to recover proceeds of corruption. Thus, both extradition and MLA are indispensable means of international cooperation in criminal law enforcement. International law does not impose any obligation on states to extradite. Nor does ...