Court orders extradition of two Maltese men to Italy

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja this week ordered that two Maltese men are remanded in custody while authorities finalise their extradition to Italy.

The Italian Court of Genoa issued a European Arrest Warrant against Maltese nationals Francis Xavier Galea and Michael Spiteri, claiming the men formed part of an organized crime ring which dealt in counterfeit and forged documents.

The warrant read that the offence carries a maximum prison term of seven years and is an extraditable offence.

In the initial hearing, the court confirmed that the identity of both men matched that of the wanted persons appearing on the European Arrest Warrant.

During their separate extradition hearings, and in the presence of their defence lawyers neither Galea nor Spiteri objected to their extradition to Italy.

Magistarte Aaron Bugeja upheld both requests for extradition and ordered that the two men are kept in custody until their extradition is finalised within 10 days from the sitting.   

Deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech prosecuted.