Namibia delays U.S. software fugitive extradition case

WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Fugitive U.S. millionaire Jacob "Kobi" Alexander on Wednesday won another delay in his legal battle to avoid extradition from Namibia over an alleged scheme to backdate millions of executive stock options.

Alexander, former chief executive of New York-based software maker Comverse Technology Inc., has denied wrongdoing, blaming instead poor financial and legal advice. He is fighting efforts to send him back to the United States to face trial.

Cosmos Endjala, the presiding magistrate, said the case would be heard on March 4, 2009 to allow time for Alexander to challenge the constitutionality of his extradition in the country's Supreme Court of Appeal.

"The matter has been postponed pending judgment in the Supreme Court of Appeal," Endjala said in a brief hearing in the Namibian capital Windhoek. Endjala also extended Alexander's bail.

Alexander has bought a home in Namibia and pledged to invest $14 million in business and charitable projects in the southwestern African nation, prompting critics to accuse him of buying influence.

Namibia's government has described him as "very passionate" about the country and its 2.1 million people.

He has fought extradition since his arrest in 2006 by Interpol officers, acting on a warrant issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

(Reporting by Paulus Ashipala; Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Charles Dick)