Brazil to appeal Italian court's ruling over extradition
A Brazilian court has announced it has been preparing an appeal against the ruling issued by Italian authorities rejecting Brazil's extradition request of former Banco do Brasil Director Henrique Pizzolato, sentenced as part of Penal Action 470, which investigates the mensalão corruption scandal. Brazil has 15 days to file the appeal with the Italian Court of Cassation, in Rome.
According to the Italian court, the extradition request was rejected due to the conditions in Brazilian prison facilities. The judges mentioned two deaths that took place this year at the Penitentiary Complex of Papuda, in the Federal District, where Pizzolato would serve time if his extradition were granted.
The appeal is jointly drawn up by the Public Prosecution Service, the Brazilian Office of the Attorney-General, the Ministry of Justice, and also an Italian law firm, which is to work in the case. According to Public Prosecution Service, the Italian Public Prosecutor's Office will also appeal in an attempt to extradite Pizzolato.
Pizzolato was sentenced by the Federal Supreme Court to over 12 years in jail for money laundering and embezzlement in the mensalão case. He escaped to Italy in September last year, before trials were over, and was arrested in February this year in Maranello, Italy.
The scheme which entailed political corruption with the illicit purchase of votes from members of the National Congress, known as mensalão, took place between 2005 and 2006. The case had as its protagonists members from then-President Lula da Silva's government, the Workers' Party (PT), and other political parties.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Brazil to appeal Italian court's ruling over extradition
