Self-proclaimed Dominica Ambassador to the UNFAO Francesco Corallo arrested in St. Maarten

Photo Credit: The Daily Herald

​Francesco Corallo, a man who Dominica sought to make its permanent representative to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) was arrested in St. Maarten early Tuesday Morning. According to St. Maarten media, Corallo was arrested by the island's Anti-corruption taskforce of the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team on the request of Italian authorities.
 
Another suspect, Dutch born Rudolph Baetsen was also arrested on French St Martin. It is reported that Italy will request extradition to face charges of tax evasion, and bribery of politicians among other alleged offenses. Dominica's connection with Corallo surfaced in November 2011, when his home was raided by Italy's Police Unit for Finance and Tax.
 
However, at the time, he claimed diplomatic immunity on the grounds that he was an ambassador for Dominica to the UN FAO, Dominica's Foreign Affairs Ministry said Corallo was in fact its designated Ambassador to the FAO, but approval for that appointment was not confirmed by the FAO, at the time of his arrest in 2011.