A Polish man this afternoon gave his consent to his extradition from Malta to Poland where he is wanted in connection with his failure to pay child support between 2005 and 2007.

Miroslaw Rodziewicz, 49, appeared before Magistrate Marseann Farrugia after having been apprehended at the airport as he was about to board a flight to Tunisia.

Sources said the European Arrest Warrant had been issued in 2010 by Poland, where he is wanted for allegedly failing to pay his wife the maintenance she was due for their daughter, who is now 26 years old.

Sources said the authorities did not know that the Pole was in Malta because of the Shenghen rule. However, as soon as he presented his passport at the airport, an alert was issued when they saw that his name was on the European wanted list.

In court, Mr Rodziewicz, with a team of four lawyers appearing on his behalf, said he was willing to go back to Poland to settle the issue.

He is insisting that all child support was duly paid. He consented to his extradition at the next available date.

Police Inspectors Jessica Abela and Christopher Galea Scannura and Deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech prosecuted. Lawyers Vince Micallef, Andy Ellul, Keith Borg and Yanika Camilleri appeared for the man.