An Italian man with suspected ties to the mafia, currently undergoing extradition proceedings before the Maltese courts, is to be repatriated to his homeland after the request for committal was green-lighted by the court.

Antonio Ricci, arrested on Easter Sunday on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant issued by judicial authorities in Calabria, had been residing in Malta for the past 10 years and had strong family ties on the island.

The request by the Italian authorities had followed hot on the heels of a domestic arrest warrant issued against Mr Ricci in December last year, for prosecution over his alleged participation in a criminal organisation.

The alleged crimes were clearly listed in the warrant and had been confirmed by the Maltese court presiding over the committal proceedings who had expressly asked for official documentation from the Italian Justice Ministry.

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The documents had confirmed the specific charges and details of the alleged criminal activity, supplying dates, places, other persons involved and the aim thereof.

Upholding the request, the court, presided over by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, observed that the offence over which the extradition was being sought was an extraditable one.

It turned down a request by the man’s defence team for a reference to the European Court of Justice.

The defence had also sought to challenge the validity of the procedure adopted by the Italian authorities, arguing that they should have issued a European Investigation Order rather than an arrest warrant.

However, the court threw out this argument stating that it was not the role of the Maltese Courts “to usurp the function of the foreign judicial authorities and to dictate which instruments and which procedural action ought to be taken”.

The court remanded the man in custody pending his extradition, not before seven days, and subject to possible appeal.

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Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Stephen Tonna Lowell were defence counsel. Inspectors Mark Galea and Robinson Mifsud prosecuted. Lawyers Matthew Xuereb and Charles Mercieca appeared on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.