Italian managing director remanded in custody pending extradition

Court remands Italian businessman wanted in Italy on charges of fraud and particpation in organised crime in custody pending extradition proceedings

Stefano Detassis
Stefano Detassis

A court has ordered that an Italian businessman, who is wanted in Italy on charges of fraud and participation in organised crime, be remanded in custody pending extradition proceedings. 

Stefano Detassis, the managing director of a company dealing with the import and export of organic cereals, is the subject of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the tribunal of Pesaro, in Italy.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona heard Inspector Mario Cuschieri explain how the Maltese police had received a European Arrest Warrant for Detassis back in August, but that the suspect has only been traced yesterday. The inspector said that Detassis was found at an apartment in Paceville and confirmed that a copy of the European warrant had been handed to the suspect upon his arrest. 


Detassis is wanted by the Prosecutor's Office in Pesaro in connection with international trafficking in genetically modified wheat and corn, after the Italian authorities seized a consignment of wheat, corn and soya. Sources close to the case claim that an initial inspection found the grain to be in line with the applicable standards, but that a second test noted irregularities. The source alleged that this was due to incorrect storage of the consignment, adding that the samples could not then be traced due to breaks in the chain of custody and the passage of time. It went on to explain that the accusation was that he had falsified documentation relating to the grain, but said that all the necessary documentation has now been presented in Italy.

Defence counsel Lorna Mifsud Cachia told the court that Detassis had informed both the Italian and Maltese authorities that he was in Malta and could therefore not be considered as a fugitive.  She noted that the warrant makes it very clear that her client is not to be kept in any prison but under house arrest and since this is not possible in Malta, she requested that he be released on bail. 

However, Deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech pointed out that since house arrest was not a possibility in Malta, the Court could not simply release the accused on bail adding that the accused had previously been placed under house arrest in Italy, but had still made his way to Malta. Defence Counsel, however, reiterated that the accused had not previously placed under house arrest in Italy because he had formally notified the Italian Authorities that he was leaving Italy.

Magistrate Micallef Trigona held that he had no other choice but to turn down the request for bail due to the fact that had the Italian authorities not wanted the accused to be arrested in Malta, they would not have kept the European Arrest Warrant in force and hence remanded the Italian in custody.