A man from Slovakia, who had been on the run from Italian authorities for 16 years, was apprehended upon his return to attend the Winter Olympics to support his country’s ice hockey team. The 44-year-old, whose identity remains undisclosed, was intercepted by police before reaching the arena as there had been an outstanding arrest warrant issued against him dating back to 2010.
The warrant was related to a series of thefts he was alleged to have committed. Italian Carabinieri police confirmed that he is now required to serve a sentence of 11 months and seven days. Authorities were able to locate him after he checked into a guesthouse on the outskirts of Milan, opting to return to Italy despite being wanted by law enforcement.
The man’s intention was to attend the ice hockey match at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Wednesday evening. However, he was intercepted and taken into custody, subsequently being escorted to the central San Vittore Prison. Meanwhile, Slovakia’s men’s ice hockey team achieved a surprising victory over Finland, with upcoming matches against Italy and Sweden.
Slovakia, a bronze medalist in Beijing four years ago, is making its return to the Winter Olympics after their last appearance in Sochi 2014. Amid the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Games, notable incidents have included Team USA’s Lindsey Vonn suffering a severe leg injury and Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, fiancée of Jake Paul, securing a gold medal.
While Team GB has yet to secure a medal, hopes are high for skeleton world champion Matt Weston in the upcoming final. The Winter Olympics, running from February 6 to 22, offer over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video, with access through a £3.99 entertainment subscription. To stay updated on the latest sports news, consider following Daily Mirror on Facebook or setting it as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.