New Delhi: Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi has escaped the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for now. An Argentine court on Saturday ruled against extraditing Quattrocchi to India. In an exclusive chat soon after the verdict, Quattrocchi's lawyer Alejandro Freeland spoke on the phone with CNN-IBN Correspondent Sumon K Chakrabarti.
Alejandro Freeland: We are very happy because this is a great victory.
CNN-IBN: When Quattrocchi was arrested you sounded very confident at that point of time as well.
Alejandro Freeland: We have been very confident in this case because we always thought that India did not have the reason to come to Argentina and still harass and persecute Quattrocchi.
CNN-IBN: How is Quattrocchi reacting to this judgement?
Alejandro Freeland: He is very happy. And I think it is time for India to finish this persecution against him.
CNN-IBN: What exactly did you argue in court. What are the points that went against India?
Alejandro Freeland: We first spoke about the question of illegality of his detention.
CNN-IBN: But did you use the fact that Quattrocchi was not extradited from Malaysia as well as the fact that the Indian Government in 2005 de-froze Quattrocchi’s accounts in London.
Alejandro Freeland: Of course, we used the argument that India lost the case in Malaysia. We also argued that India lost the case in London as well.
CNN-IBN: So, for the time being Quattrocchi can cool his heels in Sheraton Hotel in Buenos Aires?
Alejandro Freeland: Yes, we will be in Buenos Aires till the last decision. He was always present in the court when the judge called him. He is sure about his innocence and confident that the case will end soon.
CNN-IBN: Thank you for talking to us.
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