Quattrocchi case: Extradition denied, CBI to decide on appeal

New Delhi, Jun 9 (UNI) In a major setback to the investigations in the Bofors case, the CBI's request for extradition of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi for trial was today turned down by a Argentine court.

The court in El Dorado, without specifying any reasons, ruled that Quattrocchi should not be extradited to India. A detailed copy of the judgement was however not available.

CBI sources here said the agency will take a decision on further course of action, after studying the judgement.

However, Reuters adds: The lawyer representing India, Miguel Almeyra, told the agency he will appeal the decision with Argentina's Supreme Court.

Quattrocchi, 68, was detained in Argentina in February under a 1997 Interpol warrant and India formally requested that Argentina extradite him in March.

Indian investigators say Quattrocchi took seven million dollar in bribes as a middleman in the 1.2 billion dollar 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.

''India will appeal this decision because it thinks Mr Quattrocchi should face trial in Indian courts for once and for all,'' Almeyra said after the ruling in the northern Argentine town of Eldorado in Misiones province.

Almeyra said Quattrocchi fled prosecution and has been a fugitive of justice -- a charge which Quattrocchi's chief defence lawyer, Alejandro Freeland, has denied.

Freeland said Quattrocchi will present himself before the judiciary here for as long as he is required, claiming that he had never tried to escape judicial process.

UNI