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Hitchhiker Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 3514 Location: Ontario, Canada
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Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:33 pm Serb convicted of war crimes living on B.C. island |
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CBC News wrote: | Serb convicted of war crimes living on B.C. island
Last Updated Wed, 02 Nov 2005 18:14:04 EST
CBC News
People who live on a small island off the B.C. coast are reeling after finding out that a local handyman has been convicted of war crimes in Croatia.
* INDEPTH: War crimes
Josip Budimcic, 42, was convicted in absentia of torturing and executing prisoners in 1991 while a member of the Serbian paramilitary police.
A Croatian court also convicted him of crimes against humanity and the Croatian government has been seeking his extradition from Canada for several years.
Budimcic moved to Saltspring Island � an island of 9,000 people about 60 kilometres from Vancouver � two years ago from Saskatchewan after his background become public knowledge there.
* FROM MAY 21, 2001: Convicted Croat war criminal told not to go home
His neighbours on the island say they never would have suspected it of the man they knew as "Joe Somebody" � the name of Budimcic's handyman company there.
"He's a nice guy ... easygoing, cheerful, always volunteering his help," said Al Friesen of Saltspring Auto Parts, where Budimcic is a customer.
Friesen said he was shocked to hear about the charges and wasn't sure what to make of them.
"I was surprised," he told CBC News. "I don't believe it, what happened back there, well, he was doing his job maybe? I don't know."
Budimcic isn't hiding his identity. His last name is carved on a piece of wood that hangs by the front door of his house and his full name and phone number are painted on the side of his truck.
He didn't want to talk about the case, saying the extradition process is in the hands of his lawyer.
He would only say that he likes living in Canada � and that all people should be considered to be innocent unless and until they're proven guilty.
He faces a 15-year jail term if returned to Croatia.
Copyright �2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved |
Source
I heard about this on CBC radio while working. It's kind of a quandary, really. It'd be a shame to have him extradited for nothing, but then again, if he is really guilty. . . .
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Brightstar82 Rear Admiral
Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 4394 Location: A Borg Cube....Where Else?
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Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:55 pm |
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I heard about that to...thats not good
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Lord Borg Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 11214 Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:56 am |
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That is pretty scary really. Suddenly finding out someone in your town has been convicted of war crimes, and is now on the run, or what not.
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