Miami trial with Chavez link set for jury

MIAMI, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A Miami judge says jury deliberations will likely begin Monday in a case involving a suitcase allegedly filled with illicit campaign cash from Hugo Chavez.

The Miami Herald said Wednesday U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard expected closing arguments Friday in the trial of Franklin Duran, a Venezuelan businessman living in Florida who was stopped in Argentina with nearly $800,000 allegedly earmarked for the winner of Argentina's presidential election.

Federal prosecutors charged Duran with failing to register as a Venezuelan government agent while living in the United States.

Defense attorneys argued business rivals who wanted to take over Duran's operations had set up their client and the money did not come from the anti-American Venezuelan president.

The Herald said the case has drawn intense interest in Latin America, particularly since the female security guard who intercepted the suitcase later did a photo spread for a South American issue of Playboy.