Brazilian judge suspends extradition of Italian activist Cesare Battisti

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-14 13:58:04|Editor: Zhou Xin
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RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Luiz Fux ordered Friday a preemptive suspension of any order to extradite Italian activist Cesare Battisti to his native country.

Battisti is wanted for several crimes in Italy. He was tried in absentia and convicted to a life sentence for murders committed while he participated in a political guerilla.

He arrived in Brazil in 2004. Italy sought his extradition, but in 2010 Battisti received permission from the Brazilian government and the Supreme Court to stay in the country. He is now a permanent foreign resident in Brazil.

However, Battisti was arrested last week on the border between Brazil and Bolivia, as he tried to cross into Bolivia with undeclared money - dollars and euros. He denied that he was trying to flee the country.

After the arrest, the Italian government has reportedly been informally seeking his extradition. A formal request for Battisti's extradition was considered imminent by his defense, who then requested a preventive habeas corpus from Judge Fux.

With Fux's order, Battisti's freedom is ensured until the Supreme Court decides on his case in a permanent manner, which is expected to take place on Oct. 24.

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