An Italian man wanted in his homeland to serve time behind bars over a series of charges related to rape and domestic violence, was remanded in custody after being taken under arrest following an urgent alert issued by Italian authorities.

Alessandro Ponti, 45, from Rogno, but residing at Marsascala, was arrested yesterday afternoon after a court in Brescia issued an arrest warrant and notified police forces in Europe of his wanted status by means of the Schengen Alert System.

Following his arrest, the Italian was today escorted to court, before duty magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo, to undergo extradition proceedings upon the request of the Italian state.

Police Inspector Mario Cuschieri and prosecuting lawyer Matthew Xuereb from the AG’s office, explained in court how the man was expected to serve almost six years in prison after he was found guilty of having threatened to kill his partner and of raping her in the presence of her sleeping children.

After being given by the court the faculty of consenting to the extradition and returning to Italy within 10 days, the man chose to withhold his consent.

Lawyer David Harding, who was assisting the requested man, explained that his client had not been appropriately assisted by a lawyer during the criminal proceedings leading to his conviction. For this reason, he chose not to consent to the extradition.

The man was remanded in custody pending continuation of the extradition proceedings next Monday.