MILAN — Italian police arrested a Slovak fugitive who returned to Italy to support his country at the Winter Olympics, ending 16 years on the run, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported.
The 44-year-old man was headed to the Santa Giulia arena in Milan for Slovakia’s ice hockey game but was taken into custody and transferred to San Vittore prison instead, according to ANSA.
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Police were alerted to his presence after he checked in at a guesthouse, the agency said. Officers moved in before he reached the venue.
The man must now serve just over 11 months in prison for a series of thefts dating to 2010, ANSA reported.
The arrest drew a stark contrast to the celebratory nature of the Winter Olympics, where international fans have converged on host cities to follow their national teams. In this case, a bid to cheer on Slovakia’s ice hockey side brought the fugitive back into a jurisdiction where an outstanding sentence awaited him.
Authorities did not immediately release additional details on the original theft cases or the man’s movements during his years avoiding capture. ANSA did not specify whether the arrest occurred inside the guesthouse or in transit to the arena.
Large sporting events such as the Olympics typically attract a surge of visitors and increased attention from law enforcement around transportation, accommodation and venues. In this instance, a routine check during a guesthouse stay was enough to alert police and close a long-running case.
San Vittore is one of Milan’s most prominent detention facilities. The length of the sentence suggests the man is expected to serve the remainder of a term imposed in connection with the 2010 thefts, though ANSA did not detail the original proceedings.
Ice hockey is among the marquee events during the Winter Games, and Slovakia routinely draws enthusiastic traveling supporters. The team has made deep tournament runs in past international competitions, and national pride around the sport is high, amplifying interest in Olympic fixtures. That enthusiasm, however, intersected with the legal reality of an unresolved conviction when the man returned to Italy.
The police action underscores a perennial risk for fugitives: returning to a country where a court sentence is pending can quickly expose them to arrest, even in crowded public settings or during major events. In Milan, a simple check-in at a guesthouse was enough to end a 16-year absence and send a fan to prison instead of the stands.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
