An Australian underworld figure arrested in Phnom Penh on Thursday has been deported to Thailand, where he is wanted in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a former member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, an immigration official said on Monday.
Antonio Bagnato, 26, is alleged to have led the abduction of his business partner, Wayne Schneider—whose naked body was found in a shallow grave in the Thai tourist town of Pattaya on Wednesday—before crossing illegally into Banteay Meanchey province.
The heavily tattooed Australian was arrested by military police in central Phnom Penh on Thursday afternoon, then turned over to immigration police.
“We deported him on Saturday,” department spokesman Keo Vanthan said on Monday.
Australian media reported last week that Mr. Bagnato was also wanted by authorities in Sydney for questioning over a 2014 murder there.
On Friday, General Sok Phal, chief of the immigration department, said he would be deported to his home country despite his wanted status in Thailand.
On Monday, however, Lieutenant General Vanthan said he was sent to Bangkok.
“He crossed the border illegally, so we followed procedure and sent him back to Thailand,” he said, adding that Australian authorities were not involved in the proceedings.
