An Italian man with suspected ties to the mafia, arrested on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant by police on Easter Sunday, had been living in Malta for the past 10 years and had strong family ties on the island.

Antonio Ricci, whose name had been banned from publication upon his arraignment last week, was back in court on Monday as extradition proceedings got underway.

A note by his defence team, making reference to local media reports which had breached the ban by publishing the man’s name, was turned down by the court assigned the hearing of the extradition proceedings.

That court, presided over by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, pointed out that the order banning publication had not been in terms of a particular provision of law which required such orders “to be signed by the registrar and posted up at the door” of the law courts.

Hence there was no order in force banning publication of Mr Ricci’s name, the court ruled.

The man, wanted by the Italian authorities for association with the mafia, as well as management and collection of illegal betting on behalf of a mafia organisation, had been residing in Malta for the past 10 years, defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi pointed out when making submissions on bail.

The Italian had family ties on the island, the lawyer continued, adding that had the man wanted to abscond he had ample time to do so given that he had been aware since November that authorities back in his homeland had kicked off investigations in his regard.

Moreover, the man was willing to submit to house arrest, even though such a measure had been declared by our courts as breaching fundamental human rights, the lawyer argued, adding that Mr Ricci was even willing to cover the expense of police surveillance outside his residence were he to be granted bail.

Finally, the court was informed that there were two third parties who were willing to step in as guarantors for the arrested man to be released from preventive arrest.

The court said that it would decree upon the issue of bail in chambers, whilst adjourning the case to next week for the parties to put forward their arguments regarding the dual issues of extraditability and bars to extradition, “the merits of the entire EAW proceedings,” as pointed out by defence lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell.

Lawyer Alfred Abela was also defence counsel. Lawyers Matthew Xuereb and Charles Mercieca from the AG’s Office prosecuted alongside Inspector Mark Galea.