India asks Argentina to extradite Quattrocchi

BUENOS AIRES, March 2 (Reuters) India has formally requested Argentina to extradite Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi sought for possible involvement in Bofors scam that rocked Indian politics in the 1980s.

Quattrocchi, 68, was detained in Argentina in early February under a 1997 Interpol warrant. A court released him on bail last week, but barred him from leaving the country.

''We have submitted our documentation. It is now for the Argentine authorities to take'' the case, S K Sharma, director of prosecution at India's Central Bureau of Investigation, told reporters outside Argentina's foreign ministry.

Indian investigators say Quattrocchi took 7 million dollars in bribes as a middleman in the 1.2 billion dollars purchase of artillery from Swedish arms maker Bofors AB in 1986 for the Indian army.

Quattrocchi has denied any wrongdoing in the Bofors matter, and India failed in its efforts to have him extradited from Malaysia five years ago.

If Argentina approves the extradition request, the process could last up to two years if Quattrocchi appeals to the Supreme Court, legal expert Gregorio Badeni told Reuters.

Indian officials will have to show that Quattrocchi faces charges that are compatible with Argentine law and that the statute of limitations would not be violated, Badeni said.

Officials at Argentina's foreign ministry declined to comment on the case.

Quattrocchi's defence lawyer, Alejandro Freeland, said his client has not been charged with specific crimes in India.

Freeland said the Quattrocchi case seems to be political, with opposition legislators in India having accused the Congress Party-led ruling coalition of hiding news of Quattrocchi's detention to avoid seeking his extradition.

Reuters DH VP0425