Captain Dragan´s extradition from Austrialia could be postponed until 2012

by **Strawberry** Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:00 pm

The extradition of the suspected war criminal Dragan Vasiljkovic from Australia to Croatia could be put off until 2012, the daily Vecernji List writes.

The 55-year-old wanted for war crimes committed in the Croatian city of Knin during the war of the 1990s, has been held in Australia’s Silverwater jail for nine months while awaiting extradition.

Although the Australian federal court has agreed to extradition, the process requires the Interior Minister’s approval. He is, however, awaiting the finalization of all proceedings after the Vasiljkovic’s lawyers lodged an appeal of the court's verdict.

It is not likely that the court will hear the case before August, the Serbian press has reported. If the judges decide to transfer the case to the Judicial Council, no meeting would be held before November.

Vasiljkovic – who is better known by his wartime nickname "Captain Dragan" but has renamed himself in Australia as Daniel Snedden - is wanted in Croatia on suspicion of committing crimes in the Knin area between 1991 and 1993. He is also suspected of having violated Geneva conventions on the treatment of prisoners.

http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2011-02-14/17166/Captain_Dragan%B4s_extradition_from_Austrialia_could_be_postponed_until_2012