Bolivia has not yet announced whether it will hand over the terrorist to Brazil or Italy. Victim celebrates
Alberto Torregiani, who became paraplegic at the age of 15 and whose father was murdered by Cesare Battisti, told the Ansa agency that the terrorist's arrest happened “at the right time”. “It’s finally over. Maybe it’s actually a good day,” he said.
Accused of terrorism, the Italian had been on the run since last December and was arrested late Saturday afternoon (12) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the most populous city in Bolivia.
He put up no resistance and was wearing blue pants and a T-shirt, sunglasses and a fake beard. Battisti was taken to a police station, and Bolivia has not yet announced whether it will hand him over to Brazil or Italy.
Also according to Corriere, Interpol already suspected that the Italian had been hiding in Santa Cruz de la Sierra since before Christmas. The newspaper says that Battisti had a “staggering” gait.
History
A former member of the far-left militia Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC), the Italian was sentenced in his country to life in prison for four murders and involvement in terrorism in the 1970s.
As a fugitive, Battisti passed through France and Mexico, before arriving in Brazil, where he was almost extradited by decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). However, a decree signed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the last day of his second term as president gave the Italian permission to stay in the country.
With the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, Italy presented a new extradition request and received a favorable opinion from Michel Temer, but an injunction from STF minister Luiz Fux prevented him from being handed over to the European country.
Last December, however, the same Fux overturned the injunction and decided that Temer had the power to reverse the asylum granted by Lula. Afterwards, the then president signed the extradition decree, but Battisti managed to escape the Brazilian authorities, fleeing to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where he was captured.
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