‘Fat Leonard’ said to be seeking asylum in Venezuela

CARACAS: A fugitive Malaysian businessman nicknamed ‘Fat Leonard’ who is at the centre of a major US Navy bribery scandal seeks political asylum in Venezuela after being detained in the country last week, local media reported.

Leonard Glenn Francis was arrested on Sept 21 at the international airport outside Caracas as he prepared to leave for Russia. He was under a red notification requested by the United States, Interpol’s Venezuela chief said, adding that authorities were planning to begin his extradition procedure.