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Quattrocchi fights extradition
over Bofors scandal

Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, a key accused in the Rs 640 million Bofors pay-off case, once again tried to stall his extradition from Malaysia, claiming he would become ''a victim of politics and not receive justice''.

February 16 is the date fixed by a high court judge to hear his application to quash a home ministry okay to send him to India, following a request from New Delhi.

Quattrocchi has been claiming that there is no need for him to go to India, as "there is no case". He has been in Malaysia as a business consultant for seven years and was allowed to remain on bail.

The Central Bureau of Investigation in India has filed charges against Quattrocchi and Martin Ardbo, former managing director of the Swedish arms maker, AB Bofors, claiming they paid kickbacks to the Indian Army on the purchase of 400 artillery guns. If they are convicted, they can be sentenced to seven years in prison.

Quattrocchi and Ardbo, who is believed to be in Sweden, deny the charges.

Quattrocchi was arrested by the Malaysian police last month on a request from their counterparts in India. The home ministry approved sending him to India, although the countries do not have an extradition treaty.

But the Italian filed a motion to overturn his arrest and hopes of flying back to New Delhi with Quattrocchi in custody were dashed.

A lower court adjourned the case on Monday, when Quattrocchi's lawyers said they had filed a motion in the high court to quash the extradition order.

Mohamad Shafee Abdullah, who is Quattrocchi's lawyer, said the Indian Government had misled the Malaysian authorities.

"He was never charged in India," Shafee told reporters.

"This is not a case about Quattrocchi. He is a political victim. This is about the conduct of the Government of India."

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