The extradition order of a rape suspect accused of faking his own death to the US has been approved by Scottish ministers.
Nicholas Rossi, who claims he is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight, has been at the centre of a long-running extradition battle in Edinburgh and a court ruled in August that he should return to the US to face serious sex charges.
American law enforcement officials claim he is a fugitive who fled to the UK to evade justice.
But Rossi, 35, claimed he is the victim of a “stitch-up” by UK and US authorities.
He is wanted by authorities in Utah for the alleged rape of a woman in 2008.
Rossi also faces a number of complaints for alleged domestic violence in Rhode Island.
An international game of hide and seek ended when Rossi was tracked down via an Interpol red notice while unconscious in a COVID hospital ward in Glasgow in 2021.
He was arrested after his tattoos and fingerprints were matched to documents held by the National Crime Agency.
Rossi claimed the tattoos were imprinted on his body while he was in a coma fighting coronavirus – a suggestion branded “scandalous” by a Scottish sheriff.
A Scottish court ruled in November last year that he was the suspect American officials have been trying to track down.
Rossi has deliberately delayed extradition proceedings by claiming he is the victim of mistaken identity.
His legal bill – costing tens of thousands of pounds – is being paid for by taxpayers.
A court ruled in August there was no impediment to the 35-year-old being extradited and the decision was then placed before Scottish ministers.
The Scottish Government confirmed under Freedom of Information legislation on Thursday that his extradition order was signed on 28 September.
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