Croatian national extradited to Serbia

The Norwegian Ministry of Justice has decided that a Croatian national charged with war crimes is to be extradited to Serbia. Requests for extradition of the Croatian national have been made by both Serbia and Croatia.

In 2006 Croatia requested the extradition of its national on the basis of a conviction for the murder of a person in Croatia in the autumn of 1991.  The same year Serbia filed an extradition petition of the national in question on the basis of war crimes charges, including murder and inhumane treatment of at least 200 prisoners of war in Vukovar, Croatia, in November 1991.

Both extradition petitions have been subjected to thorough judicial process, and it has been finally and enforceably decided in the courts that the criteria for extradition to both Serbia and Croatia are met. It is consequently up to the Ministry of Justice to decide whether extradition shall take place and if so, to which country. 

The Ministry of Justice has undertaken an independent consideration of whether the criteria for extradition pursuant to the Extradition Act are met. The Ministry has found that there exists due cause to believe that the person concerned is guilty of war crimes against at least 200 persons. Extradition to Serbia is not in conflict with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, on the right to a fair trial.

The Ministry of Justice has attributed decisive weight to the fact that it is Serbia’s extradition petition that covers the more serious offence.

The Ministry of Justice’s decision can be appealed to the King in Council within three weeks. Any such appeal has suspensive effect.

The implementation of the extradition will be arranged direct between the Norwegian and Serbia police. Under the Extradition Act, extradition shall be implemented as soon as possible, and no later than four weeks after the final decision has been taken.

Contacts:

The Ministry of Justice, divisional director Wenche Kvernland, tel. 22 24 51 39.

Kripos (the Norwegian Criminal Investigation Service), advisor Anne Bye Sandal, tel. 23 20 80 60.

The National Public Prosecutors’ Office, Public Prosecutor Pål Lønseth, tel. 91 66 66 95 or Chief Public Prosecutor Siri Frigaard, tel. 23 17 42 00.