Ex-CIA agent’s villa is seized

Magistrates have seized a villa in northern Italy belonging to a former CIA station chief who faces a possible indictment in the alleged kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric, officials said.

The villa belonging to Robert Seldon Lady will be held until the end of the trial. In the case of a conviction, it will be sold to pay for court costs and possibly damages to the injured party, said prosecutor Armando Spataro, who requested that the house be seized.

The order applies to half the villa, the news agency ANSA reported, because Lady’s wife is listed as co-owner, meaning authorities would be entitled to half of any sales price. Lady is believed to be in the United States.