Extradition proceedings of Italian Mafia boss Sebastiano Brunno began yesterday with the court giving the prosecution time to get the Justice Minister’s authorisation.

By law, an extradition request can only go ahead in court with the authorisation of the Justice Minister.

There were also certain documents that needed to be provided by the Italian authorities who were requesting the extradition.

Mr Brunno, 56, was arrested in Buġibba on October 2, five years after the Sicilian police had started an extensive manhunt for him. He is believed to be the head of the Nardo Cosca, a branch of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra.

The arrest followed an international investigation coordinated by the Catania anti-Mafia unit with the Malta police CID and drug squad.

Mr Brunno, who had been monitored in Malta for three months, is wanted in connection with several brutal murders and was one of the Mafia leaders involved a bloody feud in the 1990s. He has been a fugitive since 2009 and an Italian court has already sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech prosecuted.

Lawyers Marion Camilleri, Angie Muscat and Clint Tabone appeared for the accused.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja put off the case to October 20.

The case against Mr Brunno over alleged possession of a fake passport and using it to enter Malta illegally is expected to start on Monday before Magistrate Doreen Clarke.

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