Kuala Lumpour High Court today dismissed an Indian bid for the extradition of an Italian businessman wanted over the sixteen-year-old Bofors arms sale corruption scandal.

Ottavio Quattrocchi, 64, left the court a free man after judge Augustine Paul confirmed an order made by a lower court, which ruled it could not order his extradition because India had failed to fulfill judicial requirements.

Quattrocchi told AFP outside the court that he would leave next week for Italy via China to visit an ailing family member.

"I had never doubted the Malaysian judiciary. I have done nothing wrong. I have nothing to fear."

Prosecutor Kamarul Hisham said the prosecution would seek to overturn the judgement in the Court of Appeal, with the support of India, but would not ask that Quattrocchi be prevented from leaving the country before the hearing.

"He is free to go wherever he wants to," Hisham said.