A former CIA operative has begged the Irish government to give him shelter — so he can avoid prosecution in America over an alleged multi-million dollar fraud.
Soldier turned business film mogul Don Victor Cisternino — who is locked up in Croatia pending his extradition to the United States for charges over an alleged €6.4 million loan scam — also has an Irish passport and has pleaded with authorities here to give him political asylum.
“If I am returned to the US, I will only be sentenced immediately (sic) for up to 35 years in prison, which is essentially the rest of my life for a crime I did not commit,” Mr Cisternino says in a document.
“This is a violation of my humanitarian rights as an Irish citizen and I know Ireland would not let that happen.”
Mr Cisternino has engaged a leading criminal defence lawyer in Ireland to help him in his fight to avoid being put on a plane to America — where he is facing decades behind bars if he is convicted.
Dundalk solicitor Ciarán Mulholland of Mulholland Law has now taken up Mr Cisternino’s case — and is lobbying the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on his behalf.
He said: “This is an incredibly peculiar case which required answers.
“Whilst I cannot comment on the US federal indictment, suffice to say our client disputes the allegations and questions the motives behind this prosecution.
“My sole focus…
