Malta's Attorney General Appeals Decision on Extradition of Romanian Prince

Malta's Attorney General has filed an appeal against a Magistrates' Court decision that denied the extradition of 75-year-old Romanian Prince Paul Philippe Al Romaniei. The prince, convicted of corruption and money laundering in Romania, was set to serve a sentence of three years and four months in his home country.

Magistrate Leonard Caruana of Malta's Magistrates' Court ruled on May 20, 2024, that extraditing the prince would breach his fundamental rights. The prince, who has claimed royal lineage, refused to consent to his extradition. His lawyers, Dr. Jason Azzopardi and Dr. Kris Busietta, argued that his prosecution in Romania was politically motivated.

Why this matters: The outcome of this appeal will have significant implications for international extradition cases, particularly when claims of political persecution and fundamental rights breaches are involved. It may also set a precedent for how European countries handle extradition requests and balance individual rights with judicial cooperation.

The prince was arrested in Malta on a European Arrest Warrant issued in December 2020. He had been sentenced by a Romanian court in 2020 for offenses including trading in influence and aiding and abetting a crime. The Romanian State has estimated the damages caused by the prince's actions to be around €145 million.

In a previous ruling, a French court also refused to extradite the prince, citing the risk of political persecution. The prince has claimed that his prosecution is tied to his attempts to reclaim his royal inheritance, which includes property, land, and classic artworks.

Malta's Attorney General argues that the Magistrates' Court lacked the jurisdiction to rule on the breach of fundamental rights, which is the crux of the ongoing appeal. The outcome of this appeal will determine whether the prince will be extradited to Romania to serve his sentence.

The prince's fate remains uncertain as the appeal process continues. The legal battle highlights the complexities of international extradition cases, especially when claims of political persecution and fundamental rights breaches are involved.

Key Takeaways

• Malta's Attorney General appeals Magistrates' Court decision not to extradite Romanian Prince Paul Philippe Al Romaniei.
• Prince convicted of corruption and money laundering in Romania, faces 3 years and 4 months in prison.
• Magistrate ruled extradition would breach prince's fundamental rights, citing political persecution claims.
• Appeal outcome will impact international extradition cases involving political persecution and fundamental rights.
• Prince's fate uncertain as appeal process continues, highlighting complexities of international extradition cases.