In a case that has caught the attention of legal authorities across Europe, Italian oil and gas magnate Luigi Forino aka Louis Forino Von Thyssen, 47, has been on the run since December 2023, when he failed to attend an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Despite his enormous wealth, high-profile connections, and luxury London lifestyle, Forino is now a fugitive wanted in France, where he faces a prison sentence for a 2017 rape conviction.
Luigi Forino aka Dr Louis Forino Von Thyssen made his fortune in the oil and gas industry, where he is associated with companies like MCC Petroli, based in Geneva, and maintains a vast network of business ventures in both Italy and the UK. Forino, who has used the alias “Dr Louis Forino Von Thyssen,” often presents himself as a well-connected businessman, linking his name to major players in the energy sector. According to trade articles and posts on LinkedIn, Forino has remained active, even boasting of new ventures and industry developments—actions that seem bizarrely confident for a man evading capture.
Forino’s wealth has afforded him a lifestyle of luxury, residing in a £22 million Mayfair apartment in central London. His business and personal ties in the UK appear to have played a role in his ability to stay within the country, complicating efforts to bring him to justice.
The story of Luigi Forino’s legal troubles began when he was arrested in Westminster in March 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) on a European Arrest Warrant issued by France. French authorities had convicted Forino of rape in 2017, a charge for which he was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. It remains unclear whether Forino had been present at the trial or if he fled France before being sentenced. However, what is clear is that despite his conviction, Forino managed to evade imprisonment, eventually making his way to the UK.
Initially, Forino’s extradition appeared to be proceeding as planned. He was conditionally bailed after a £20,000 surety was posted, with several restrictions placed on his movements. His passport was confiscated, and he was required to report to police weekly, while an electronic monitoring system enforced a nightly curfew from 11 PM to 5 AM at his opulent London residence.
But Forino’s wealth and resources gave him the means to slip through the cracks of the British legal system. On December 8, 2023, he failed to show up for his extradition hearing, vanishing from the court’s radar entirely. Despite an active search by the NCA, he remains at large as of early 2024. On January 29, the £20,000 bail surety was forfeited, but that sum likely means little to a man of Forino’s financial standing.
What makes this case particularly striking is Forino’s apparent defiance of his legal status. Despite being wanted in France and now a fugitive in Britain, he has continued to maintain an online presence, particularly in the energy sector. Using the alias “Dr Louis Forino Von Thyssen,” he has been active on LinkedIn, promoting his involvement in oil and gas companies, and even setting up new UK-based firms. His ability to maintain such a public profile raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the efforts to track him down.
In a broader sense, Forino’s case highlights the complexities of international law enforcement, especially when wealthy individuals use their resources and influence to evade justice. The fact that he has been able to remain active in business, while evading a prison sentence for such a serious crime, is deeply concerning for both the authorities and those advocating for justice for his victims.
As of now, Forino is still being pursued by the NCA, but tracking down a man with Forino’s financial and logistical resources is no simple task. His apparent disregard for the bail conditions, and his ongoing involvement in the business world, indicates a deep confidence in his ability to avoid capture.
However, his escape from justice also reveals gaps in the extradition and bail system. How a convicted rapist, sentenced to years in prison, was able to secure bail in the UK, live freely in a multi-million-pound apartment, and remain active in his industry while evading authorities, is a question that legal experts and law enforcement officials must grapple with.
Forino’s case has also cast a spotlight on the importance of tightening the oversight on international fugitives, especially those with the financial means to exploit loopholes. It underscores the urgent need for closer cooperation between European authorities, the reform of extradition protocols, and stricter controls on how bail conditions are enforced for high-profile and high-risk individuals.