Court orders man's extradition to Italy

An Algerian man serving time in jail and is wanted by Italy's Tribunale Di Modica will be extradited to Italy to answer to the charges against him before returning to Malta to finish his jail term. Ferhat Guellouma, 56, is wanted by the Italian...

An Algerian man serving time in jail and is wanted by Italy's Tribunale Di Modica will be extradited to Italy to answer to the charges against him before returning to Malta to finish his jail term.

Ferhat Guellouma, 56, is wanted by the Italian authorities on charges of trafficking in human beings and participation in a criminal organisation.

Extradition proceedings against him started in Malta last month and he did not object to being sent to Italy to face charges. Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna yesterday ruled that Mr Guellouma be detained in custody to await his extradition within 10 days. The magistrate ruled that Mr Guellouma was only to be extradited so long as he is kept under arrest while in Italy and returned to Malta once proceedings against him were over.

On his return to Malta he would complete the five-year jail term he is serving and face any other pending proceedings in the Maltese courts.

Police Inspectors Sandro Zarb and Maria Stella Attard prosecuted.

Lawyer Mark Busutill was defence counsel.

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