Italian fugitive was hiding in Larnaca village

AN ITALIAN escaped convict faces extradition after was caught hiding out for over a year in a small Larnaca village, police said.

The 40-year-old Italian had been working at a village restaurant for the best part of 13 months and was arrested when he tried to secure a work permit.

The convict had escaped from an Italian prison in April 2007. He had been jailed for a number of offenses including drugs charges. He still had four years and 23 days of his sentence left to complete when he escaped.

The Italian man was arrested on Tuesday after attempting to secure a work permit from immigration. During the procedure, police determined he had been placed on a wanted persons’ list since April 2007.

Larnaca CID chief Iacovos Ioannou said five European arrest warrants for drugs charges, circulating false documents and other offenses were out in his name.

The suspect was taken to Larnaca District Court yesterday to start procedures for his extradition to Italy. He will remain in custody until then.

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