Watch: ‘Don’t Throw My Son Away’ – Mother Pleads To Government To Not Extradite Her Maltese Son To The US
The mother of 27-year-old Daniel Meli is pleading to the Maltese government to not extradite her son to the United States to be tried for selling malware on the dark web.
“Don’t throw my son away and give him a death sentence.”
Lucienne Meli Bellizzi sat down with Lovin Malta to discuss the fate of her son which currently lies in the hands of the Maltese government.
She explained that if Meli is sent to the US, he will not get out.
“He will be sent to America alone. No one will see him. No one will help him. There are very degrading prisons with a high rate of violence. Dirty prisons, a lot of murder, overcrowded, practically non-existent medical care. When you realise that your son might be sent there, you start to understand that there is a good chance he will never return.”
Lucienne was clear to say that she does not think her son should be forgiven if he is found guilty, this is not what she’s asking for.
“We are saying that a Maltese citizen who committed a crime in Malta should be sentenced in Malta and carry out his sentence in Malta according to Maltese law.”
Lucienne went on to detail the immense struggle it will be for her to see her son for just 15 minutes if he’s imprisoned in America. His loved ones would have to catch a 15-hour flight and spend hundreds, if not thousands, on travel expenses to see him for a quarter of an hour behind a screen of glass.
“How many times are we going to do this? Can we do this every month? Can we fork out these costs? It’s impossible.”
After legal efforts to stop the extradition failed, Meli’s mother reminded the government that it still has time to reverse the decision. She pleaded to officials to listen to her, explaining that attempts to set up meetings with relevant parties have been refused.
“At least listen to me. I have the right to be listened to.”
She stated that the Maltese government can do what the Nigerian one did when it decided not to extradite one of its nationals who is wanted by the FBI for similar crimes.
“Nigeria has a treaty with the US. This is not an issue of treaties. Because the government has power. If it wanted, it could make a decision.”
Meli was indicted by a federal grand jury in Georgia on 12th December for four offences, including causing unauthorised damage to protected computers, illegally selling and advertising an electronic interception device, and participating in a conspiracy to commit several computer intrusion offenses.
The US Justice Department said that charging documents show Meli had been offering malware products and services for sale to cybercriminals through computer-hacking forums since at least 2012.
Earlier today, Meli appealed the sentence handed down by the First Hall of the Civil Court when Madam Justice Doreen Clarke ordered the youth’s extradition to the US.
He argued that no checks were done to determine he was medically stable and therefore capable of understanding what he was consenting to when he gave his consent to be extradited. Meli further cited his long history of mental health problems and abuse of medical substances.
Meli added that the rules of the right to a fair hearing should apply to extradition proceedings.
Where do you think Meli should be sentenced?
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