President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca yesterday visited the UNHCR Al-Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan which has a population of 80,000, where she met some of the refugee children. Photo: OPR.

A company director wanted by the Lithuanian authorities over allegations of fraud is suing the Maltese government after a judge refused to seek the advice of the European Court of Justice over his extradition to the Baltic state.

Angelo Spiteri, 44, of Vilnius-registered travel company Atostogu Sandelis is wanted by the Lithuanian authorities over claims that he had authorised company employees to accept money in return for accommodation services, which in reality were never offered. The alleged fraud was committed between 2010 and 2011. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 17 years.

At the extradition proceedings before a Maltese court, the defendant requested the suspension of the case pending a preliminary ruling from the ECJ in connection with the detention conditions in Lithuanian prisons. The defence flagged various Council of Europe reports, a decision by the Irish Supreme Court, and European Court of Human Rights rulings highlighting the appalling conditions in Lithuanian prisons.

Last January, the first court presided by Magistrate Aron Bugeja rejected this request. A month later the decision was confirmed on appeal by Judge Edwina Grima. Subsequently, the company director initiated proceedings before a Constitutional Court.

In his application filed against the Prime Minister, the Justice Minister and the Attorney General, Mr Spiteri, who is being remanded in jail, is insisting that the judge’s refusal to seek advice from the ECJ was based on a misinterpretation of the law.

The application was signed by lawyers Jason Azzopardi, Kris Busietta Patrick Valentino and Prof. Ivan Sammut.