A Maltese national yesterday left Malta for Australia where he is expected to be tried over rape allegations after he exhausted all possible legal remedies to prevent his extradition.
John Mary Chircop's case goes back to November last year when the Magistrates' Court ruled in favour of his extradition to Victoria, Australia, where he is wanted for allegedly assaulting and raping a 14-year-old girl between November 1, 2003 and September 8, 2004.
He had then filed a constitutional application claiming that his right to a fair hearing had been breached by the magistrate presiding over the extradition proceedings.
After the First Hall dismissed the application, ruling that Mr Chircop had other remedies at law, he took his case to the Constitutional Court.
The Constitutional Court dismissed his appeal and confirmed the First Hall's decision. That exhausted Mr Chircop's legal remedies against extradition within the Maltese courts. Consequently, yesterday he was extradited to Australia.
Lawyers Cynthia Scerri Debono and Donatella Frendo Dimech represented the Attorney General's office.
Lawyers Patrick Galea, Philip Galea Farrugia and Michael Tanti-Dougall represented Mr Chircop.