Quattrocchi held in Malaysia

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, DEC. 20. Mr. Ottavio Quattrocchi, Italian businessman friend of the late Rajiv Gandhi wanted in the Bofors case, was arrested by the Malaysian police in Kuala Lumpur today following an extradition request made by the Government of India.

Mr. Quattrocchi, who was later released on bail by a Malaysian court, had to surrender his passport. He also had to furnish a bond of 4,00,00 Malaysian ringits (Rs. 47 lakh) and two sureties.

According to Kuala Lumpur-based sources, preliminary hearing in the extradition case will begin in the sessions court on January 22. The hearing will take place under the Malaysian extradition law. The offence allegedly committed by Mr. Quattrocchi is bailable under Malaysian law.

A two-member Central Bureau of Investigation team is in Kuala Lumpur in connection with the case.

AFP reports from Kuala Lumpur

``It is an attempt to get Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Quattrocchi said after his arrest and release by the Malaysian authorities.

``If Sonia Gandhi were not in politics, this case would have been dead many years ago. It's an attempt to get Mrs. Gandhi,'' Mr. Quattrocchi told AFP.

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