European court upholds extradition, Pizzolato returns to Brazil

The European Court of Human Rights rejected on Tuesday (Oct. 6) the last appeal filed by former Banco do Brasil Marketing Director Henrique Pizzolato against his extradition to Brazil. He is expected to leave Italy Wednesday (7), escorted by the Federal Police, for Brasília, where he should serve the sentence pronounced under Penal Action 470, the mensalão case.

He was sentenced by the Supreme Court to 12 years and seven months in jail for money laundering and peculation. Pizzolato, who holds dual citizenship, fled to Italy in September, 2013, before the trial was over, using a fake passport with his deceased brother's name in it. In February last year he was arrested in Maranello.

To prevent extradition, Pizzolato appealed to various Italian courts, claiming human rights are not observed in Brazilian prison facilities. The same argument was used by his defense team in a motion submitted to the European court, after his extradition was ruled on September 22 by Italy's Council of State. According to the judges working on the case, the conditions in Brazilian penitentiaries are satisfactory and Pizzolato may safely serve his sentence in the Latin American country.

*With additional information from Ansa.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira