CAPE TOWN Feb 3 (Reuters) – A South African court
denied bail on Friday to the convicted killer of Serbian warlord
“Arkan”, saying he might try to flee to avoid extradition back
to his native country.
Dobrosav Gavric was sentenced in absentia by Serbia in 2008
to 35 years in prison for killing Zeljko “Arkan” Raznatovic,
Serbia’s most infamous wartime paramilitary leader and mafia
boss. It remains unclear who ordered the killing.
Gavric was living in South Africa under a false name with
his wife and two children until police uncovered his true
identity late last year during an investigation into another
crime he was arrested for.
“The applicant does not qualify for bail because he poses an
inherent risk, that should he be released on bail, he would
resist extradition to Serbia,” magistrate Joe Magele told a
packed courtroom in Cape Town.
Gavric’s identity surfaced during a police investigation
into the murder of a Cape Town underworld kingpin. Gavric was
driving the gangster’s car at the time of the assassination.
Gavric, who was also wounded in the hit, was charged with
possesion of cocaine found in the bullet-riddled car, and his
identity was confirmed after Interpol cross-matched his
fingerprints.
He has remained in custody at the request of Serbian
authorities, who are seeking his extradition. South Africa’s
justice ministry, which is processing Serbia’s request, was not
immediately available for comment on its possible outcome.
Arkan, who was indicted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal for
atrocities during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, was shot dead in the
lobby of Belgrade’s Intercontinental Hotel on Jan. 15, 2000.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
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