Argentine authorities have arrested a man wanted in Italy for decades for a kidnapping carried out by the Red Brigades.
The reason for Leonardo Bertulazzi, who for years had refugee status in Argentina, is facing a 27-year prison sentence in Italy after almost 44 years on the run.
Bertulazzi, now 72, was convicted in absentia in Italy in the 1970s for the kidnapping of Pietro Costa, a shipbuilding engineer from a wealthy shipbuilding family in Genoa.
He was first arrested by Buenos Aires police in 2002 after allegedly entering the country from Chile on a fake passport, but was released a few months later and extradited.
He was granted refugee status two years later, but the decision was revoked when Argentina’s right-wing president, Javier Millay, took power last year.
The Red Brigades had kidnapped and killed many government officials in the 1970s and 1980s, including former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.
Bertulazzi, as the BBC notes, was a member of the Red Brigades section of Genoa. They kidnapped Costa while he was on the road and held him for 81 days before receiving a large ransom.
The money was then used to buy an apartment in Rome, which was used in 1978 to kidnap and kill Aldo Moro.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised Buenos Aires authorities for arresting Bertulazzi. He added that his arrest was made possible thanks to the “intense and fruitful cooperation” of the authorities of the two countries as well as Interpol.
Meanwhile the Italian’s lawyers have appealed to Argentina’s national commission for refugees (Conare) to prevent his extradition.
🔵Arrested in Argentina #fugitive of the Red Brigades since 1980 Leonardo #Bertulazzi. Among those responsible for the kidnapping Costa, with the ransom he bought the apartment in Rome where Aldo Moro was held prisoner. He must serve 27 years. He will be extradited to Italy. pic.twitter.com/dX9AQ99lZQ
— Rai Radio1 (@Radio1Rai) August 30, 2024
Read also
Bad weather: Strong storms, lightning and storms – When the phenomena subside (LIVE)
Seasonal firefighters at documentonews.gr: They complain about numerous violations of working hours – “We have a colleague dead”
Fruit and vegetable prices on fire – Fire crop destruction brings new increases
Christos Spirtzis calls on the Ethics Committee to check Kasselakis!
Bombshell submission to Competition Commission on Novartis – Unfair practices to exclude competitors
#Argentina #member #Red #Brigades #arrested #Wanted #years
