Date:13/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/13/stories/2007061317620100.htm

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Quattrocchi: CBI ordered to pay legal costs

CBI has five days to go on appeal

Buenos Aires: The CBI was dealt another blow on Tuesday when Judge Harichi Doi of the First Court of El Dorado ordered the prosecution to pay Ottavio Quattrocchi's legal fees.

The ruling is significant as under Argentine law, a judge issues such an order only if he believes that the defendant did not have a case to answer which suggests that Judge Doi was not convinced that the CBI had grounds to file for Mr. Quattrocchi's extradition.

It now appears that the prosecution will have their work cut out if they go ahead with their appeal to the Argentine Supreme Court.

Reacting to the decision, Mr. Quattrocchi said he was "satisfied that justice had been done."