Italy seeks man's extradition

Italian authorities are insisting on the extradition of a Floriana man over his alleged involvement in the importation of cocaine and cannabis from Holland to Catania last year.

Romeo Bone, 27, yesterday appeared before the magistrates' court under arrest on the strength of a provisional arrest warrant signed by Magistrate Miriam Hayman on Friday.

Extradition proceedings against Bone had been initiated last November but an appeal court declared the proceedings null and void after ruling that the magistrates' court, which had ruled for extradition, had failed to ask for an extension to the judicial time limits when these were about to lapse.

Yesterday police inspector Neil Harrison, who is prosecuting with the assistance of counsel to the republic Donatella Frendo Dimech, exhibited several documents, including an Interpol notice, charges brought against Bone and a summary of the facts surrounding the incident drafted by Italian prosecutors.

But Joseph Giglio, counsel for Bone, argued that the extradition proceedings were not necessary since his client was already actively participating in an ongoing court case in Italy through legal representatives.

Dr Giglio also argued that Bone was currently undergoing a court case over the same incident in Malta. Bone's extradition to Italy might lead to him being sentenced twice for the same crime and this, the lawyer said, was in breach of his fundamental human rights.

But the prosecution rebutted saying that Bone's rights were not being breached since, although the case in Malta and the case in Italy were based on the same evidence, the cases dealt with two separate incidents.

After hearing submissions on bail, duty Magistrate Lawrence Quintano noted the serious nature of the crime and that Bone had already lost his freedom during another extradition proceeding, over the same incident, which had been declared null and void.

These he said, constituted exceptional circumstances and he granted Bone bail against a Lm10,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm10,000.

The case continues.