Page 9 - AT

A9
WORLD NEWS Monday 14 January 2019

Italian fugitive captured 3 decades after murder conviction

By NICOLE WINFIELD for the Italian assassin and
ROME (AP) — A left-wing partner of ideas of one of
Italian militant who was the most corrupt govern-
convicted of murder in his ments to ever exist," Bolson-
home country nearly three aro tweeted in a reference
decades ago was arrested to da Silva's Workers' Party.
in Bolivia, authorities said Bolivia's public defender,
Sunday, setting the stage David Tezanos, said Battisti
for a climactic end to one formally requested asylum
of Italy's longest-running ef- in Bolivia on Dec. 21, but
forts to bring a fugitive to he had not received a re-
justice. sponse from the leftist gov-
The Italian government ernment of President Evo
sent an aircraft to pick up Morales. Tezanos warned
Cesare Battisti, who was that Battisti's rights were be-
captured by Bolivian and ing violated with his hasty
Italian police in Santa Cruz expulsion.
de La Sierra, where he was Throughout the day Sun-
located by intelligence day it was unclear if Bat-
agents after using one of tisti would need to be
his mobile devices, Italian transferred first to Brazilian
police and RAI state televi- custody before being ex-
sion said. In this April 12, 2012 file photo, Italian Cesare Battisti attends the presentation of his book about his tradited, but by the end of
The 64-year-old had been experience in prison in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. the day it was established
living openly in Brazil for Associated Press he would fly to Italy directly
years and enjoyed the pro- from Bolivia.
tection of left-wing govern- Battisti was expected to re- France, where he joined rested again in 2017 after Brazil's foreign and justice
ments on both sides of the turn to Rome aboard the dozens of left-wing Italian he was caught trying to ministries said in a joint
Atlantic. But Brazil's outgo- Italian aircraft direct from militants who enjoyed of- cross the Brazil-Bolivia bor- statement that Battisti "will
ing president signed a de- Santa Cruz "in the coming ficial protection from the der carrying the equivalent leave Bolivia direct to Italy
cree last month ordering hours," Italian Premier Gi- French government. of about $7,500 in unde- to serve his life sentence."
his extradition, apparently useppe Conte said. He said Like Battisti, they fled dur- clared cash. He was re- The statement was signifi-
sparking Battisti's latest ef- Italy, and the families of ing Italy's "years of lead," leased after a few days. cant, since under Brazilian
fort to flee. Battisti's victims, had waited a bloody and turbulent As a result of that incident, law people extradited
Italian police released a too long for justice. era during the 1970s and Brazilian Supreme Federal to serve life sentences
video of Battisti they said Battisti escaped from an 1980s when militants on the Tribunal Justice Luiz Fux said must have their sentences
was taken hours before Italian prison in 1981 while left and right carried out in December that Interpol capped at 30 years — a
his capture, showing him awaiting trial on four counts bombings, assassinations had issued a request for concession Italian officials
seemingly oblivious to sur- of murder allegedly com- and other violent acts to Battisti's arrest on tax eva- on Sunday dismissed in in-
veillance cameras tracking mitted when he was a try to bring down the Italian sion and money launder- sisting that Battisti serve his
him as he walked casually member of the Armed Pro- government. ing charges, leading him full term.
down the street in jeans, a letarians for Communism. After political winds shifted to issue a Brazilian warrant. Bolivian government minis-
blue T-shirt and sunglass- He was convicted in ab- in France, Battisti fled to Based on that, outgoing ter Carlos Romero said he
es. A subsequent image sentia in 1990 and faces a Brazil in 2004 to avoid being Brazilian President Michel would be turned over to
showed Battisti's mug shot life term for the deaths of extradited. He was arrested Temer signed the decree Italian authorities in Santa
under the seal of the Boliv- two police officers, a jew- in Rio de Janeiro in 2007, ordering the fugitive's ex- Cruz on the grounds that
ian police. eler and a butcher. prompting the Italian gov- tradition. he had entered the coun-
"Cesare Battisti's long flight He acknowledged mem- ernment to request that he Brazil's new right-wing presi- try in an irregular way and
is over," Justice Minister Al- bership in the group but be handed over. But for- dent, Jair Bolsonaro, hailed was obliged to leave. Cit-
fonso Buonafede declared, denied killing anyone and mer Brazilian President Luiz Battisti's arrest and de- ing Bolivia's migration regu-
adding that he would be has painted himself as a Inacio Lula da Silva grant- nounced da Silva's govern- lations, he said Battisti was
taken to Rome's Rebibbia political refugee. ed him asylum in 2010. ment for having granted to be handed over to Ital-
prison as soon as he landed After initially fleeing to Battisti was eventually re- the Italian asylum. ian Interpol agents at the
in Italy. Mexico, he then went to leased from jail but was ar- "Finally, there will be justice local airport.q