Court reaffirms Sicilian Mafioso's extradition

A judge has rejected the appeal filed against a decision to extradite Sicilian Mafia boss Sebastiano Brunno.

Judge Antonio Mizzi dismissed the appeal, confirming the order to extradite the Sicilian in order to serve a life sentence for murder, attempted murder and possession of weapons in the 1990s.

Brunno, who is currently serving a three-month jail term after being found guilty of the possession of a fake Italian identity card in Malta, has been the subject of an extradition order since being apprehended during a joint operation between Maltese and Italian police on 2 October.

The defence had appealed a decision by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja in which he held that Brunno’s criminal convictions were sufficient for an extradition order to be upheld.

The Sicilian Mafia boss was arrested by Maltese police on 2 October in an apartment in Bugibba, five years after the Sicilian police launched a manhunt for him.

He had been a fugitive since 2009 and a European Arrest Warrant had been issued for his arrest. Maltese police had been tipped off about Brunno’s presence in July before the raid on his apartment.

Deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech and Inspector Mario Cuschieri led the prosecution. Lawyers Roberto Montalto and Michaela Spiteri appeared for the accused.