MADRID, SPAIN— Spain's National Court rejected the provisional release of James "Fergie" Chambers, heir to one of the largest business fortunes in the United States, who was arrested in Ibiza on July 10 at the request of U.S. authorities.
The decision, made on October 9, keeps the 41-year-old
businessman in pretrial detention while proceedings continue to determine
whether he will be extradited to the United States, where he faces charges
related to alleged money laundering, rioting, and conspiracy to commit riots.
Chambers belongs to the family that owns Cox Enterprises, a
U.S. conglomerate with significant interests in telecommunications and media.
After selling his family's stake in 2023, he reportedly received around $250
million, some of which he donated to social causes and projects related to
Palestine, according to international media reports.
US authorities are seeking his extradition for an alleged
$7.5 million financial transaction that, according to the investigation, may be
linked to the funding of organizations connected to Hamas, a Palestinian
movement that Washington considers a terrorist organization.
The international arrest warrant also includes charges
related to riots and conspiracy to commit them. However, the full details of
the US indictment have not been made public.
The defense maintains that the funds were intended for
social and humanitarian projects and denies that Chambers' activities
constitute crimes. His legal team, led by former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón,
believes the case is politically motivated due to the businessman's activism in
support of the Palestinian cause.