‘Robert Seldon Lady … should have to answer the charges against him in Italy in person’ - John Dalhuisen

Amnesty International is calling for the return of the CIA agent Robert Seldon Lady to Italy to face justice for his part in the US-led rendition programme.

Lady, the former CIA station chief in Milan, was reportedly arrested in Panama earlier this week and is being held as a consequence of an arrest warrant issued by Italy, with Italy reportedly requesting his extradition.

In 2009 Lady was convicted in absentia together with 22 other CIA agents and sentenced to nine years in jail for his involvement in the kidnapping of the Egyptian cleric Abu Omar. In 2003 Abu Omar had been abducted in Milan by Italian and US operatives, before being transferred via Germany to Egypt, where he reported that he was tortured in Egyptian custody.
 
Amnesty International Europe and Central Asia Director John Dalhuisen said:

“Amnesty International welcomes the arrest of Robert Seldon Lady and calls on the Panamanian authorities to extradite him to Italy.

“By his own admission, he participated in a kidnapping operation that resulted in a man being tortured. Robert Seldon Lady evaded justice by leaving Italy before his trial - this time he should have to answer the charges against him in Italy in person.”