The Hindu : Quattrocchi's extradition plea rejected

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 03, 2002

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Quattrocchi's extradition plea rejected

Kuala Lumpur Dec. 2. In a blow to India, a Malaysian court today rejected its plea for extradition of the Italian businessman, Ottavio Quattrocchi, to stand trial in the Bofors pay-off case. The Indian authorities here have decided to go in for an appeal in the High Court. The Attorney-General's chamber, which is conducting the extradition proceedings, will appeal in the Kuala Lumpur High Court tomorrow for a review of the Sessions Court's ruling, India's lawyer, Cyrus V. Das, said.

Earlier, the Sessions Court Judge, Akhtar Tahir, threw out the extradition case on the ground that the descriptions of the offences in the requisition papers were "insufficient, vague and ambiguous". Discharging Mr. Quattrocchi unconditionally, the judge also ordered the return of his passport and the bail.

Mr. Quattrocchi has been on bail since his arrest in December 2000. He had alleged that India's attempt to seek his extradition to stand trial in the Bofors case was politically motivated. India, which has no extradition treaty with Malaysia, launched its case to bring back Mr. Quattrocchi, residing in Malaysia, two years ago. The Malaysian Government on December 15, 2000 gave a special direction in writing under the Extradition Act, and on December 18, a magistrate issued a warrant against Mr. Quattrocchi.

PTI

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