The trial began in a local court on Friday with the Italian businessman strongly opposing it and the CBI expressing confidence about its success.
Rebecca Wright
EL DORADO/ARGENTINA: The trial for extradition of Ottavio Quattrocchi wanted in India in the Bofors case began in a local court on Friday with the Italian businessman strongly opposing it and the CBI expressing confidence about its success.
Less than two months after he was detained in Iguazo International Airport, about 100 km in the Misiones province, on an Interpol Red Corner notice, Quattrocchi appeared before the judge in the First Court in this city.
Asked by judge Hachi Rodoi whether he would like to be extradited to India, the businessman, accused of taking bribes in the Bofors Howitzer gun deal, said no.
The court adjourned hearing to an unspecified date when both Quattrocchi and the CBI will be asked to present evidence and arguments, a procedure that is expected to take between two and four months to complete.
After the hour-long hearing, Quattrocchi refused to make any statement to the media and left for the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, about 1500 km from here. H e has been given bail and asked to confine himself to Buenos Aires ever since he was released from detention in Misiones province.
His lawyer Alejandro Freeland expressed confidence that the court would India's case and his client would not be deported to India.
However, CBI's counsels Migeul Alnagra and Lilian Delgado expressed confidence that CBI had a strong case. They expected the process in this court to complete in two months and to move to the Supreme Court in Buenos Aires.
They were confident that he would be extradited to India and said it is now in the hands of the court.
CBI director of prosecution S K Sharma and Superintendent of Police Keshav Mishra had rushed to the country and submitted the extradition papers to the Argentinian Government on March one.
The 69-year-old Italian businessman was detained on February six when he was on his way to Brazil.
He was released on bail on February 23 but his passport has been impounded.
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