Judoka wanted over €1 million fraud

Ukrainian martial artist Andriy Pashkov, who represented Malta at an international judo open earlier this month, was remanded in custody after an international request for extradition was issued against him in connection with the alleged misappropriation of €1 million.

The extradition order does not give much detail but says the alleged crime took place between January and April 2007 and that, if convicted, 39-year-old Mr Pashkov faces between seven and 12 years jail.

Malta was pinning its hopes on the athlete's performance at the forthcoming small nation's games in June. He was offered a job as a coach by the Malta Judo Federation before the warrant was issued and the federation had also applied for a work permit for him, federation president Envic Galea said yesterday.

During the arraignment, the head of the International Cooperation Unit at the Attorney General's Office, Donatella Frendo Dimech, asked the court to deny bail as in a police statement the accused had admitted to fleeing from the Ukraine.

However, defence counsel Franco Debono rebutted the argument, insisting that his client would definitely not leave the island because he had family here and, given sufficient bail conditions, he would abide by them. One should also bear in mind the fact that the accused had been living in Malta for the past three years, Dr Debono added.

Dr Frendo Dimech insisted that Mr Pashkov had already left Ukraine once before, leaving his family behind, and he might just do it again.

Dr Debono rebutted saying his client was not facing a life sentence and the charges were not that serious.

Magistrate Michael Mallia, took into consideration the fact that the accused had admitted to fleeing his home country and remanded him in custody as he saw no other way that would guarantee that the accused would not try to flee Malta.

Lawyer Elaine Rizzo, from the International Cooperation Unit, also prosecuted.