Brazil Court Annuls Denial of Trevi?s Refugee Claim and Grants habeas Corpus in Effort to Avoid Mexico Extradition and moves Her from Prison

On December 18, 2001, lawyers for Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi announced on the day before that a Brazil court annulled a ruling denying her refugee status, thereby providing her an opportunity to avoid extradition to Mexico. On December 26, 2001, Ms. Trevi gained a second victory when Minister Marco Aurelio de Mello. President of the Supreme Court, granted habeas corpus and ordered her transfer to hospital. In January 2000, Brazilian law enforcement authorities arrested Ms. Trevi along with her manager Sergio Andrade and Backup singer Maria Reuenel at Mexico?s request. Mexico has charged that Trevi and her two companions lured young girls with the promise of stardom only to convert them into sex slaves. On December 26, 2001, Minister Aurelio explained the granting of habeas corpus a result of her situation of indigency in the context of the prison conditions. Hence, within one week Ms. Trevi both revived her claim for refugee status and obtained habeas corpus to transfer from the prison to a hospital.