Brazilian banker to be extradited from Italy

(ANSA) - Rio de Janeiro, October 20 - Fugitive Brazilian banker Henrique Pizzolato is set to be extradited to Brazil from Italy on Friday, Brazilian media reported on Tuesday.
    Brazilian federal police officials have already arrived in Rome for Pizzolato's handover, according to local press.
    Pizzolato, marketing director of Banco do Brazil, has been sentenced in Brazil to 12 years and seven months in prison in a political bribery case. He fled to Italy, where he has citizenship, and was arrested one year ago with a fake passport but released after a lower court refused extradition requests, saying his safety was not assured in a Brazilian jail. He was rearrested on the orders of Italy's top Cassation Court in February.
    Senator Carlo Giovanardi on Tuesday said that during a meeting of the parliamentary justice commission he had reaffirmed parliament's opposition to the extradition.
    He reminded Deputy Justice Minister Enrico Costa that by allowing the extradition, the government "was taking on a serious responsibility because criminal proceedings against Pizzolato are already underway in Italy".