MAFIA LINK CRIMINAL'S FIGHT FOR ASYLUM IN SCOTLAND

Crooked accountant uses human rights law to stay in Britain while he faces prison in Romania

- BY NORMAN SILVESTER

A ROMANIAN jailed in his homeland for offences linked to organised crime is battling to stay in Scotland.

Gheorghe Marcoci, now believed to be living in Troon in Ayrshire, fled Romania in 2018 after being convicted for tax evasion.

The 55-year-old accountant was sentenced to 10 years in prison and Romanian authorities want him back to serve his jail term.

Marcoci is fighting the extradition bid, claiming the charges were "politically motivated".

But Scots judges have rejected his claims and thrown out his attempt to stop the extradition.

However the Romanian will be able to remain in Scotland while a separate application for asylum is being considered.