Australia can extradite 'Kapetan Dragan'

Radio.net

30.03.2010 u 09:38

Alleged Serbian war criminal Dragan Vasiljković, aka Kapetan Dragan, should be extradited to Croatia where he will face charges for war crimes, said the Australian Supreme Court in Canberra on Tuesday morning The Australian reported online (www.theaustralian.com.au)

The Supreme Court accepted an appeal from the Federal Government and overruled a federal court ruling that said Vasiljković could not be extradited to Croatia where he wouldn't have a fair trial due to his political beliefs.

The seven-judge Supreme Court council took only fifteen minutes to overrule the Federal Court ruling.

Former Serb paramilitary forces leader in Croatia, Vasiljković was arrested by Australian police in January 2006 based on an extradition request filed by Croatia.

At the time, he was living as an Australian citizen by the name of Daniel Snedden.

Vasiljković did not attend the hearing in Canberra having decided to return to his home in Coffs Harbour the previous evening.

On Monday the Australian State Attorney argued for the Republic of Croatia that the Federal Court was wrong when it blocked Vasiljković's extradition based on the evaluation that he would not have a fair trial based on his personal politics.

Vasiljković is accused of perpetrating war crimes against imprisoned Croatian Army (HV) and police forces in Knin and Bruška in February of 1993.