A fugitive who evaded police for nearly two decades has been arrested in Milan after travelling to the Winter Olympics to support Slovakia in an ice hockey match. Italian police confirmed the arrest on Friday, February 13, with the man detained two days earlier on Wednesday, February 11.
The man was wanted on a warrant issued in 2010 in connection with commercial theft offences in Bolzano, around 125 miles northeast of Milan. Police were alerted to his whereabouts after he checked into a guesthouse on the outskirts of the city, and staff notified Italy's military police.
Officers attended the property and arrested him in his room, according to Italian news agency ANSA. Instead of watching the hockey, the fugitive was taken into custody and transferred to San Vittore prison, where he is expected to serve a sentence of 11 months and seven days.
Slovakia went on to defeat Finland 4–1 at Milan's Santagiulia Arena on Wednesday, before edging out host nation Italy 3–2 on Friday. However, they were beaten 5–3 by Sweden in their final preliminary match on Saturday, February 14. The men's ice hockey tournament remains in the group stage, with results from the remaining weekend games set to determine whether Slovakia progresses or is forced into a sudden-death playoff.
