Captain Dragan to remain in Australia

Dragan Vasiljkovic , a man accused for atrocious war crimes in Croatia, will be released from a Sydney prison.

Dragan Vasiljkovic, a man accused for atrocious war crimes in Croatia during 1990’s will be released from a Sydney prison after the Federal Court accepted his appeal against his extradition to Croatia.

The 54-year-old Australian citizen, who was also known as Captain Dragan during his time as a Serbian army commander, has been in detention in Sydney since 2006, when he was arrested by Australian Federal Police after Croatia made an extradition request.

Vasiljkovic, who led a Serbian military unit during Croatian war, is wanted by Croatian Government over charges that he beat a number of Croatian prisoners, committed acts of rape and ordered his soldiers to commit murders.

Judge Geoffrey Flick ruled this morning that there was “a substantial or real chance of prejudice” in case Mr Vasiljkovic was prosecuted in Croatia. Judge flick justified his decision by saying that there “are substantial grounds for believing that he may be ‘punished’ or imprisoned and thereby ‘detained’ or ‘restricted in his personal liberty’ and such treatment arises ‘by reason of his nationality or political opnions’.”

Mr Vasiljkovic’s release will take place on Friday and costs of the trial are awarded in his favor. His 'Australian name' is Daniel Snedden.