Antonio La Torre is appealing against extradition

A sheriff ruled in December that Antonio La Torre should be sent back to his native country.

The 49-year-old food importer is wanted in Italy to face charges of robbery, extortion and the production of counterfeit money.

Mr La Torre's lawyer claimed his client's life could be in danger if he was returned to Italy.

Arrest warrant

An Italian anti-mafia department described Mr La Torre as the "undisputed head of a criminal organisation".

He was found guilty of various crimes in Naples at a trial held in his absence in 2004 and was sentenced to 13 years in jail. He is also currently appealing against that conviction.

He has been in custody since March 2005 when he was served with a European arrest warrant for offences allegedly committed between October and December 2001 in Mondragone near Naples.

Defence counsel Mungo Bovey QC launched the appeal against two separate extradition orders.

In custody

He began the hearing by arguing that Mr La Torre's alleged offences predate the current 2003 Extradition Act.

Mr Bovey called for his client to be dealt with under earlier legislation which is more favourable to him.

Mr La Torre, who was born in the sea-side town of Mondragone, has lived in Aberdeen with his Scottish wife and three children for 18 years.

He became a naturalised British citizen in April, 1994 and renounced his Italian citizenship in August of that year.