Buenos Aires: The judgments given in India in the Bofors cases and the failed extradition attempt in Malaysia will form the basis for the defence of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi should the extradition case initiated against him by the CBI proceed to a hearing, his Argentinian lawyer Alejandro Freeland has said.

Not contacted by CBI

Mr. Freeland, claimed that both he and Mr. Quattrocchi were ``confounded'' at the turn of events that resulted in the Bofors accused's arrest in Argentina. He told PTI that he has not been contacted by the CBI; nor has he had access to the papers supplied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.

He, however, has been researching precedents in cases involving the Bofors arms deal and believes ``there is significant evidence that the case being brought against Quattrocchi is based on fictitious events, this view being supported by a judge in the New Delhi High Court in rulings in 2004 and 2005 during the Hinduja brothers' Bofors trial.''

``It is likely that these cases, and the failed Malaysian extradition attempt will form the basis of Quattrocchi's defence should the case proceed to a hearing,'' he said.

According to Mr. Freeland, Mr. Quattrocchi was a resident ``in India until 1993, seven years after the Bofors disposal, and was never questioned or approached by the CBI during this time. Following the last extradition attempt in Malaysia in 1997 Mr. Quattrocchi returned to Italy and again, no attempt was made by the CBI to begin extradition proceedings there.''

Unaware of new evidence

Mr. Freeland is also unaware of any new evidence being brought by the CBI. He expects it to be the same evidence the CBI supplied for the Malaysian extradition hearing. He is also not aware of the charges being laid against his client. Asked what he thought was likely to happen next, the lawyer said he and his client were hopeful that the CBI case would be thrown out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However if the case did proceed, his client could be held in Argentina for anywhere between one to six months.

Asked about Mr. Quattrocchi's treatment in Argentina, Mr. Freeland said that Mr. Quattrocchi has been treated as well as the circumstances allow, and received ``very good support'' from the Italian Embassy here. The Italian Embassy had even supplied references to the Argentinian courts, vouching for Mr. Quattrocchi's character and helping to secure his bail. Mr. Quattrocchi is tired, annoyed and in questionable health, his lawyer said. Mr. Freeland, who did not know what Mr. Quattrocchi's current employment status was, only said he was a ``very active man.'' When asked how he came to be representing Mr. Quattrocchi, Mr. Freeland said that he was put in contact with him by a mutual business associate, who is a personal friend of Mr. Quattrocchi's.

Mr. Freeland said he had no prior knowledge of Mr. Quattrocchi or his case before he began representing him in February, but he has been a prominent criminal lawyer here for 21 years.

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