Magistrate Aaron Bugeja this morning heard final submissions in the extradition proceedings of Sebastiano Brunno, 56, who was arrested in Buġibba on October 2, five years after the Sicilian police mounted an extensive manhunt for him.

He is known as 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 Maltese CID and Drug Squad.

In her submissions, deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech argued that the proceedings had begun after the Catania authorities had written to their Maltese counterparts that Mr Brunno was wanted to serve time in jail over a murder in April 1992 and for weapon possession.

On his part, defence lawyer Roberto Montalto argued that the extradition request ought to be thrown out as the documents presented as supporting evidence were "inadmissible".

But Dr Frendo Dimech rebutted, saying the documents and the request to extradite Mr Brunno had been signed by an Italian Minister and the documents related to the court case in Italy authenticated by a judicial authority.

Magistrate Bugeja postponed the case for judgment to next week.