Malta to extradite Italian gaming employee with suspected mafia links

A suspected Sicilian mafioso is to be extradited to Italy to face trial for participating in organised crime, a Maltese court has ruled.

Antonio Ricci, listed as a company secretary to the Malta company Harvey Gaming, had been arrested in late April through a European Arrest Warrant issued by a court in Calabria, on suspicion of laundering ‘Ndrangheta mafia funds. 

In a decision handed down this morning, Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech conducted an exhaustive examination of the requirements and procedures required in extradition cases, before ruling that these had all been satisfied.

Unless he appeals, Ricci will be extradited to Italy where he faces a maximum of seven years in prison for participation in a criminal organisation.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Stephen Tonna Lowell are defence counsel.

Inspectors Mark Galea and Robinson Mifsud prosecuted.

Lawyers Matthew Xuereb and Charles Mercieca appeared on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.