Lyford Cay resident Viktor Kozeny returned to court yesterday for the continuation of his bail hearing, but will have to wait for today for Magistrate Carolita Bethel to make a ruling in the matter. The United States wants The Bahamas to extradite Kozeny to face trial for his alleged involvement in a reported multimillion-dollar scheme to bribe officials of Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company. Yesterday, Kozeny’s attorney, Philip "Brave" Davis, addressed several key issues that were raised last week by prosecutor, Francis Cumberbatch. They include Kozeny’s diplomatic status as ambassador at large for Grenada, and the interchangeable use of two Irish passports for travel between the United States and The Bahamas in 1997. But Mr. Davis said his client was granted a U.S. visa on two separate occasions, each in a different Irish passport. He said when Kozeny was issued a new passport, and the old one that contained the U.S. visa was cancelled, the visa was still valid so he presented the document to immigration authorities. Mr. Davis also said all of Kozeny’s passports that are in the court’s possession are marked cancelled. He also said none of the passport was used or obtained in a sinister way as suggested by the prosecution. As indicated, the other issue addressed by Mr. Davis was the matter of Kozeny’s diplomatic status. According to Mr. Davis, the defence was still awaiting confirmation on whether Kozeny still holds the position of honorary consul or ambassador at large for Grenada. Magistrate Bethel said the question of Kozeny’s status must be answered because there are special privileges afforded diplomats. She also questioned whether honorary ambassadors were afforded the same rights and privileges as ambassadors. Mr. Davis said that he did not know. Magistrate Bethel then allowed Kozeny to address the court on whether he was an ambassador. Kozeny told the court that he has not received any correspondence from officials in Grenada on his diplomatic status. He also told the court that up to the year 2000 he had in his possession a diplomatic passport issued by Grenada. Kozeny said he returned it to the prime minister of Grenada hoping to get an appointment to the United Nations to represent that country. He said during his tenure as ambassador at large for Grenada he acted in the capacity of a regular ambassador and should be granted the privileges afforded diplomats. Magistrate Bethel is expected to make a ruling on the bail matter today at 4pm. Reprinted from jonesbahamas.com