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CNN NEWSROOM

John McAfee Flees to the United States; Mexican Plane Crash Investigated; Globetrotters Play in Afghanistan; Italy's Prime Minister To Resign

Aired December 13, 2012 - 12:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SUZANNE MALVEAUX, ANCHOR, "CNN NEWSROOM INTERNATIONAL": Wow.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Suzanne, he says a lot of this goes way back before the events of his neighbor's killing on November 11th, Gregory Faull.

He says that it goes back to April when officials with the police raided his property, accusing him of running a meth lab. They found nothing, but they handcuffed him, shot his dog, he says, 42 members of the military and police, and then let him go and didn't charge him with anything.

But he said that they did that because, he says, he refused to pay a $2 million bribe to local authorities and that is why, he says, he went into hiding and went on the run because he just feared that they were going to do anything they could to get him and to charge him with this crime.

MALVEAUX: And, John, is there any way that the folks in Belize can force him, can they get him out of the United States and face this questions around the murder of his neighbor, or is that done with?

ZARRELLA: Well, not just based on the fact that they wanted him for questioning. Remember, he was never charged with anything. They would have to charge him with something and then there is, of course, extradition treaty with the United States and then those proceedings could begin.

But right now, he told me when we sat and talked that the FBI has not contacted him, has not talked to him. There are also reports that the IRS wanted to speak with him.

He said he hasn't talked to anyone from the IRS and, in fact, he said I would be stupid to come back to the United States if I had issues with the IRS because, if anybody can get you, he said, it's the IRS.

So, not, of course, that he had any choice in the matter of coming back to the U.S., being deported here, but that's how he put it.

MALVEAUX: John, is there any sounds you want to play now or we can save it for later? I understand -- I mean, you know, you sat down and talked to him for quite a bit, yeah? ZARRELLA: Well, yeah, and he refused to do an on-camera interview with me at the time because he insisted he did not want any of what he said to be edited down so he would only agree at some point to do live with CNN, although he did come out a little bit later and held a long interview with all of the media, which we're going to get turned around and play a bit little later.

But, you know, he has continued, Suzanne, and I think we may have a little bit more sound from last night, where he insists he had absolutely nothing to do with his neighbor's murder and insists this whole thing has nothing to do with the murder of the U.S. businessman, Gregory Faull, that it's all a vendetta against him because he says that he's been blowing the whistle on corruption in Belize and will continue to do that.

I think there is some sound from last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you worry that the U.S. and Belize have extradition treaties?

JOHN MCAFEE, SOFTWARE COMPANY FOUNDER: I'm not worried at all. If I'm in front of the court, there's nothing in the world they will do to send me back. They have no evidence.

I have tons of evidence about the corruption, the harassment, beginning with the attack on my property in April. I mean, of course, I'm not worried. I'd be happy to go in front of a judge, just not one in Belize.

I mean, if you've read my blog, I mean, for seven months, I've been speaking out about the government, openly, angrily. I am a thorn in their side and they want to shut me up.

Unfortunately, now that I'm here, they cannot shut me up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: You know, Suzanne, he did say that he had been in hiding since April. This isn't since the murder, that he's been underground periodically since then, and, in fact, he told me that he was underground in hiding at the time of Gregory Faull's murder down in Belize, so ...

MALVEAUX: Yeah, it's so bizarre.

ZARRELLA: ... that's his story.

MALVEAUX: It's so bizarre. It's just a crazy story.

All right, it looks like he's a free man there in Miami. We'll be following him. Thank you, John.

It's a CNN investigation. We're taking a closer look at the plane crash that killed a beloved Mexican-American singer. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: It's pretty crazy. This is a whole lot of pushing and shoving and shouting going on, not a wrestle match, of course, not a professional one, at least. These are lawmakers in the Ukraine.

The fighting started with opposition members accused two party members of changing their minds, their political views, tried to block them from being sworn in. It ain't pretty.

Several people hurt there. It was just a crazy scene that unfolded, just unbelievable.

A bizarre arrest in Barcelona, Spain ended with a woman having her breast implants removed with what police described as three pounds of cocaine inside them. That is right.

Airport security got suspicious when the woman was bleeding from her chest. She claimed she had just gotten breast implant surgery, but then they noticed a white foreign material peeking out of the incision.

So, they took her to the hospital and what they found, two bags, allegedly containing cocaine. You see them there. Authorities say it was worth more than $100,000 worth of cocaine on the street.

Investigators looking into the plane crash that killed Mexican- American star, Jenni Rivera, say it could take up to a year to find out what caused that plane to nose-dive from 28,000 feet.

CNN's Rafael Romo has learned some troubling new details about the owner of the plane.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lizeth Alvarez says she's convinced the airplane her son was flying was in good shape.

It was in excellent condition, she says. There was no malfunction.

Alvarez is the mother of Alesandro Torres Alvarez (ph). The 20-year- old who was the co-pilot of this Learjet that crashed in northern Mexico killing singer Jenni Rivera.

The pilot, identified by Rivera's family as Miguel Perez Soto, was 78- years old, according to his passport found at the crash scene.

According to court documents obtained by CNN, the Learjet Perez was flying belonged to Starwood Management, a company sued twice this year for allegedly making false statements to insurance companies.

The company is linked to Christian Esquino Nunez, a Mexican national who pleaded guilty in 2004 to charges of falsifying airplane maintenance records. Starwood Management has denied Esquino Nunez was involved with the company. CNN wasn't able to get comment from Starwood Management or Esquino Nunez. The Learjet in which Rivera was traveling was built in 1969.

Meanwhile, relatives of the Mexican-American singer say they still have hope.

JUAN RIVERA, JENNI RIVERA'S BROTHER: In our eyes. we still have faith that my sister will be OK. We have no confirmation of her body being recovered, dead or alive.

ROMO: There are makeshift memorials to honor Jenni Rivera in California where she was born, neighboring Arizona and as far away as Chicago.

DAVID MIRANDA, CHICAGO DEEJAY: We did not lose Jenni Rivera. A legend was born. That's the way some colleagues and I consider it.

ROMO: Adoring fans have also set up memorials in the Mexican city of Monterrey where Rivera performed her last concert before taking the doomed flight.

RIVERA: Our family is going through a very difficult time. We're strong and we will continue to stay strong. And we thank God for the life that he has given daughter -- I mean, my sister -- for all the triumphs and successes she has had and we expect that there will be more in the future.

ROMO: Relatives of Jenni Rivera have traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, to help authorities in efforts to identify the body of their sister using DNA. Mexican officials say tests are on their way, but the results could take anywhere from a day to several weeks.

Raphael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: The Harlem Globetrotters play ball for the troops in Afghanistan. We're going to talk to one of those players up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: All right, you know the sound, "Sweet Georgia Brown," theme music of the Harlem Globetrotters, the iconic basketball team that's been entertaining audiences around the world for more than more than 80 years.

The Globetrotters took their crazy antics and amazing skills to Afghanistan this holiday season to perform for the troops.

Long ball shooter Firefly Fisher was among the players there. Fisher is in his third year as Globetrotter and he's joining us live from New York.

Hey, good to see you. What do you got? Let me see your skills?

FIREFLY FISHER, HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS: How's everything?

MALVEAUX: Hey, good. Let me see that move?

Nice, sweet. I remember from back in the day.

So, you were there for a couple weeks. How was your trip? Tell us about it.

FISHER: It was great. We actually played 10 games on our annual military tour and two games were in Afghanistan, one was in Bagram, one was in Jalalabad. Then we played in other places, as well, such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Djibouti and the UAE.

So, it was a great experience. I'm happy I was on it.

MALVEAUX: You make it look easy when you have that ball spinning. She had that ball spinning on her finger there.

What does this mean for some of the men and women that you met over there?

FISHER: It means a lot, because you know, the Globetrotters are not around our family as much because we're gone for 9 out of 12 months, so we can relate to the troops in some way with not being around our family for the holiday season.

So, anytime we can go out there and take time out of our busy schedule to put a smile on their face, that's what it's all about. And I'm just happy I was a part of it.

MALVEAUX: Tell us a little bit about those uniforms there. It's a little different. You've got camouflage going on.

FISHER: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I have one right here, actually. And, you know, I'm hope that I was able to wear one of these camouflage uniforms that were actually custom for the troops. And they definitely loved it. You know, it's a little different from our traditional red, white and blue uniforms, but it just added a little flavor to the Harlem Globetrotters. And the troops loved it. They were actually trying to take mine away, but I told them I need to stay on the team.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: And I understand you actually ran into somebody who you knew, who you didn't even expect who was there actually on the ground in -- one of the troops. Is that right?

FISHER: Oh, yes. Yes. I actually graduated from Kingston High School in 2004, and I went to school with somebody named Dorian Garcia (ph), who was actually -- who's actually a troop in Afghanistan. And it was -- it was a great -- it was a great experience to be able to run into him after eight years. I really didn't know what to expect. He really enjoyed it. He contacted me on FaceBook and asked me if I was going to be there because he saw a poster of the Harlem Globetrotters. And I told him I was. And, you know, now this is going to pave the way for us to keep in touch with each other a little bit more than eight times -- or eight -- out of eight years, only one time.

MALVEAUX: That's pretty cool. Tell us, finally, you know, this is a group that's been around for more than 80 years. I remember them as a kid. I was -- I just loved you guys. How do you become a Harlem Globetrotter? How do you do that? Is it really hard?

FISHER: Yes, it is hard. You know, this is something that's been around for 87 years, and it's not easy to do. Everybody sees the tricks that we do every single day, but they don't know the type of commitment, the dedication that we have to do in order to be a Harlem Globetrotter. And at the same time, we're all great basketball players. We actually start our tour coming up on December 26th, which is called the "You Write the Rules" world tour, where the fans can go on harlemglobetrotters.com and they can actually vote the type of things that they want to see us do that can go from two balls at the same time, double the points, the four-point shot that we have this year. You know, it's just a great way for us to interact with the fans and for them to see the type of things that we're able to do a little bit more.

MALVEAUX: Yes, I like that around the back move. That's pretty slick as well.

All right, well, Fisher, thanks. It's great seeing you. Love the work that you do. And, of course, you know, just visiting the guys, the men and women out there, it means the world to them as well. Good to see you.

FISHER: Yes, thanks for having me. And I hope to see you real soon at a game.

MALVEAUX: All right. I'll be there. All right, thank you.

FISHER: All right, take care.

MALVEAUX: Well, what happens in Italy affects all of Europe, of course the rest of the world. One of the Italian leaders is stepping down, the other one planning a controversial comeback causing shockwaves across Europe.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: This is a comeback attempt that is grabbing the attention around the world here. We're talking about former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he's going to run again. This after the current prime minister, Mario Monti, announced that he is going to step down as soon as the budget is passed. Ben Wedeman reports the thought of return to Berlusconi rattling some folks' nerves.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's back. Once and perhaps future Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he's run for the premiership for the sixth time in 20 years. A year after he resigned as prime minister, he's coming back more emphatically than ever, telling an appreciative audience in Rome that he'll denounce the policies of his successor, technocrat Mario Monti, and his management of the current economic crisis.

After decades in the bruising arena of Italian politics, this 76-year- old businessman appears rested and ready for a fight. Tanned, fit, not a gray hair on his head.

Berlusconi is not, however, without troubles of his own. He's appealing a conviction for tax evasion and is still on trial for allegedly having sex with a minor, a now of age exotic Moroccan dancer known as Ruby Rubacuori, or "Ruby, The Heartbreaker,"

Berlusconi is in and Prime Minister Mario Monti will soon be out, announcing he'll step down as soon as parliament passes Italy's 2013 budget. But stepping down doesn't mean he's stepping out. Many here speculate he's simply preparing to take off his technocratic mantle and don that of a politician and run himself for the premiership in elections early next year. Monti's policies of tax increases and spending cuts have sparked widespread protests, but many other Italians think such tough measures were unavoidable, says Professor Franco Pavoncello.

FRANCO PAVONCELLO, JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY: While there is concern, while there is resentment, while there is worry about future, I think there is a rather widespread agreement that what Monti did was absolutely necessary to avoid disaster in the finances of the country.

WEDEMAN: Monti's medicine has been bitter says bank worker Simone Scholasti, but it had to be swallowed.

"Let's say Monti put in place very hard measures with taxes and whatnot, but something is coming out of it," he says. "With Berlusconi, the situation was the lowest it could get. So the return of Berlusconi, I honestly see as very bad."

Berlusconi won the premiership three out of the five times he ran. Some Italians love him, some hate him, but few underestimate him.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: All right, we know you love your dog, but would you put him or her up in a four-star hotel? You'll got to see how some pets are actually pampered in Brazil. It all has to do with the growing economy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: All right, talk about some pampered pets. A dog's life looking pretty good in Brazil. This is where more and more pooches are getting the royal treatment. Brazil's growing middle class lavishing love and luxury on their furry friends. CNN's Shasta Darlington takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mirrors on the ceiling and a lot of frisky nibbling on the bed below. For about $50, this pair of French bulldogs enjoys a bit of foreplay at Brazil's first love motel for pets. Cherry's owner says she's still too young to mate, but they'll be back when she comes of age. "I like to give her everything I can," he says. "A lot of people think it's too much, but I think she deserves it."

The motel is just part of Animalle Mundo Peche (ph), a new pet complex in Belorizanti (ph), Brazil, where you can find everything from chocolate dog biscuits to assisted reproduction experts.

"Our clients don't see animals just as animals," says the owner. "They talk about their pets like members of the family. My son or my brother."

And their numbers are growing. In Brazil, a decade of prosperity propelled millions into the middle class and fueled a demand for pets of all kinds, but especially dogs. Breeds like shih tzu's an Italian greyhounds have become new symbols of economic status.

Brazil is now the world's fifth largest market for pet accessories, worth about $9 billion in 2011. And it's expected to keep growing at double digits. Dog leashes embedded with crystals, pet spas and animal daycares are the latest fashion.

DARLINGTON (on camera): More and more restaurants are offering dog specials on the menu. And today we brought along a beef flavored dog beer for Roxie (ph). There we go. Don't worry, it's not alcoholic.

DARLINGTON (voice-over): Back at Animalle, Cherry munches on a homemade dog pizza after her love theory, while Toby (ph) relaxes in a Japanese ofoto (ph) soaking tub. Hardly a dog's life.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, Sao Paulo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: I'm kind of envious there. Geez.

All right, we're going to end the hour with a look at what is topping the charts. These five guys, kind of a big deal. They are taking over the radio stations all across Japan. We're going to take a look at this boy band, what they're all about. Watch.

(VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: That was My Name singing their smash hit "What's Up?"

I'm Suzanne Malveaux. We have just learned the Oregon mall where the three people were killed is set to re-open tomorrow. We have new details. Meanwhile, we're getting details about the shooter as well. An ex-girlfriend says 22-year-old Jacob Roberts, know as Jake, had been working as a cook for