Charles Zentai, an accused Nazi war criminal, will not be
held on remand while he fights the decision to extradite
him to Hungary.
Efraim Zuroff
Yesterday, the Federal Court in Perth ruled that the 87-year-old should remain
free on bail after the Hungarian authorities stated they
no longer opposed bail.
No reason was given for the change
of mind although on March 23, the Hungarian Prime Minister
resigned from office.
Zentai’s extradition to Hungary to
face investigation regarding the murder of 18-year-old Peter
Balazs, a Jewish youth spotted on a Budapest tram not wearing
the mandatory yellow Star of David, had been approved by
the Federal Court. Zentai is challenging the decision.
From Jerusalem, Efraim Zuroff, the
Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, told J-Wire: “While
this decision is unfortunate, it is merely a secondary issue
to the more important question of Zentai’s extradition to
stand trial for his crime. And in this respect, the delay
in his appeal is further evidence of the lack of understanding
on the part of the Australian judicial authorities for the
necessity of expediting such cases.”
Zentai remains free on a $75,000 surety,
having surrendered his passport and committed to not going
within 100 meters of an international departure terminal.
jwire.com.au
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