An appeal court in Malta has denied Romania’s request for the extradition of Paul-Philippe of Romania, who has to serve a sentence of three years and four months in prison in a case of illegal property restitution.

Romania’s Justice Minister Alina Gorghiu on Monday called the decision outrageous, as it violates a decision of the Court of Justice of the EU.

According to the minister, the Maltese court considered that, in the event of the execution of the European arrest warrant against Paul-Philippe, there is a real risk that he will be subject to a violation of Article 4 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

On this basis, the Maltese court refused to execute the European arrest warrant.

Gorghiu said that she will ask the Romanian government for a formal reaction.

In 2020, Romania’s Supreme Court of Justice and Cassation sentenced Paul to three years and four months in prison in a case regarding the illegal restitution of the Royal Farm in Baneasa.

He fled Romania before the sentence was pronounced, settling in France. In June 2022, he was caught in Paris, but a court of appeal refused to extradite him, on the grounds that there was a „real risk” that his fundamental rights would be violated in Romania.

At the end of April 2024, Paul travelled to Malta, where he was detained by the local authorities on information from the Romanian Police.

In July 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the French justice system did not act „correctly” in the case concerning the European arrest warrant for Paul-Philippe, and Romania hoped that the Maltese courts would consider this decision when ruling.

AGERPRES