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Saddam's lawyer arrested in Palma de Mallorca for fraud

featured in News & reviews Author Nicola Henderson, Site Editor Updated

A lawyer nick-named 'The Devils Advocate' because of his role defending a number of infamous criminals and murders, has been arrested at his home in the exclusive community of Son Vida, near Palma de Mallorca. Giovanni Di Stefano, who is Italian-British, is accused by British police of fraud, theft and money-laundering between 2004 and 2009.

Mr Di Stefano was part of the team defending Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi foreign minister Tarik Aziz. Other notorious clients include Serbian Slobodan Milosevic, serial killers Harold Shipman & Ian Brady, child molester Gary Glitter, great train robber Ronnie Biggs, time-share fraudster John 'Goldfinger' Palma and serial hostage-taker and robber Charles Bronson.

A City of London police spokesman said "This action was the result of a European Arrest Warrant issued at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on January 31 on matters relating to fraud, theft and money laundering.

"The investigation is being conducted by City of London Police's economic crime directorate who continue to liaise with the Spanish authorities with a view to bringing the arrested man to the UK."

The Majorca Daily Bulletin has reported that Di Stefano told Palma police that his arrest is politically motivated due to his involvement in trying to bring ex British Prime Minister Tony Blair to trial for war crimes in Iraq. Mr Di Stefano was hospitalised after the arrest, reportedly due to a cancer related illness.