Washington (CNN) -- A former CIA base chief wanted by Italy and detained in Panama has been released, a State Department spokeswoman said Friday. 

Robert Seldon Lady, who had been convicted by an Italian court for his role in a 2003 rendition case, was flying back to the United States. 

"It's my understanding that he is in fact either en route or back in the United States. Beyond that I have no further details," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters. 

In a 2009 trial, an Italian court convicted Lady and 22 others of abducting Osama Mustafa Hassan Nasr, or Abu Omar, from the streets of Milan in 2003. Italian prosecutors said Abu Omar was nabbed by a CIA team working with Italian officials. 

The trial was the first to deal with a practice that human rights groups call "extraordinary rendition." They say the United States has often transferred terrorism suspects to countries that practice torture. 

Abu Omar, who was suspected of recruiting men to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and was under heavy surveillance by Italy's intelligence agency, was transferred to Egypt and tortured, Italian prosecutors said. 

A former senior CIA official said Lady is no longer with the CIA. 

In the 2009 trial, the Italian court sentenced Lady to eight years in prison, prosecutor Armando Spataro said. The other Americans were sentenced to five years. 

Each of the 23 Americans was ordered to pay 1 million euros (about $1.3 million) to Abu Omar, plus 500,000 euros to his wife. 
Who wants the chief?
Who did the chief work for?
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Does he still work for the CIA?
Why did Italy want him?
Had he been sentenced?
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What was his sentence?
When was the trial?
Was anyone else sentenced at the same time?
Who?
Was their sentence more lenient?
Did anyone know where Lady was?
Where was he being held?
Did they let him go?
Who announced that he was let out?
What was her name?
Who did she tell this to?
When?
How many other Americans were convicted with Lady?
Italy
 wanted by Italy
the CIA
nabbed by a CIA team
Robert Seldon Lady
Robert Seldon Lady
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A former senior CIA official said Lady is no longer with the CIA. 
convicted by an Italian court
convicted by an Italian court
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In the 2009 trial, the Italian court sentenced Lady to eight years in prison
the Italian court
 the Italian court sentenced
eight years
sentenced Lady to eight years in prison
2009
n the 2009 trial
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The other Americans were sentenced to five years. 
The other Americans
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The other Americans were sentenced to five years. 
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A former CIA base chief wanted by Italy and detained in Panama has been released, a State Department spokeswoman said Friday
Panama
detained in Panama
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 Panama has been released
a State Department spokeswoman
a State Department spokeswoman said Friday. 
Marie Harf
State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters
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 told reporters.
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said Friday. 
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In a 2009 trial, an Italian court convicted Lady and 22 others