Courts / Dublin / Report
High Court refuses to surrender man wanted in Italy over alleged cocaine distribution
Summary
The High Court refused to surrender Yemi Moshood Olatunde, a 48‑year‑old taxi driver from Tallaght, who is wanted in Italy on a European Arrest Warrant for alleged offences involving large quantities of cocaine. Olatunde was arrested in October last year by gardai after the warrant was issued. In Italy he had been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for allegedly associating with others to purchase, transfer, distribute, trade and unlawfully possess large amounts of cocaine. Olatunde denied being the person named in the warrant. Justice Aileen Donnelly adjourned the case in June to obtain further information from Italian authorities about trial in absentia, which had not been provided. She ruled that the warrant was incomplete and that surrender was prohibited, noting that Olatunde had not been informed of the trial date or had a lawyer present. The court therefore declined to surrender him to Italy.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: High Court refuses to surrender man wanted in Italy over alleged cocaine distribution. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 10th Adjournment
- 2015-07-16 Publication
Why: The High Court heard that Mr Olatunde was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Italy because he allegedly associated with other persons in order to commit offences concerning the purchase, transfer, distribution, trade and unlawful possession of large quantities of cocaine. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Outcome: The High Court heard that Mr Olatunde was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Italy because he allegedly associated with other persons in order to commit offences concerning the purchase, transfer, distribution, trade and unlawful possession of large quantities of cocaine.; Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly adjourned proceedings last month (June 10th) in circumstances where the High Court had sought further information from the Italian judicial authorities four months ago concerning the issue of trial in absentia and the Italians did not appear to have answered the questions.
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