American who fled to Malta extradited

A 44-year-old Iowa man has been extradited to the US after skipping his federal trial on drug and weapons charges and fleeing to Malta.

David van Osten had appeared before the Magistrates' Court in Malta under arrest on September 22 on the strength of a provisional arrest warrant issued by Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima.

The warrant referred to an arrest warrant issued by the US District Court, Northern District of Iowa, on October 6, 2003, after he failed to appear in court. It stated that Mr van Osten was wanted by the US in connection with allegations of trafficking and dealing in drugs.

At the end of last September's sitting, Mr van Osten's legal representative filed an application for bail arguing there was no reason to fear his client would leave the island.

The prosecution opposed the request for fear of the suspect absconding. The prosecution contended that Mr van Osten had escaped from the US after he filed a guilty plea in a US court and gone through plea bargaining.

According to the Associated Press, US federal officials worked with officials in Malta to have Mr van Osten extradited and returned to the US. Judicial sources told The Times US court marshals came to Malta last week to escort him back to the US.

Chief Magistrate Judge John Jarvey has scheduled his trial for January 3, 2005. If convicted, he faces from five to 40 years in prison and up to a $2 million fine.

As part of the indictment, the US government is also seeking to confiscate Mr van Osten's house. Last Tuesday, the Maltese court sentenced Mr Van Osten's wife, a 39-year-old Maltese woman, to 21 months imprisonment for helping her husband skip his federal trial and escape to Malta.