AJN STAFF
Charles Zentai
PERTH man Charles (Karoly) Zentai has had his bail extended while the Federal Court weighs his appeal against extradition to Hungary to face war crimes charges.
Zentai appeared before the Federal Court in Perth on Tuesday for a bail extension hearing, after judges reserved their decision on his extradition. Earlier, Justice John Gilmour had upheld a ruling made by magistrate Barbara Lane in the Perth Magistrates Court in favour of extraditing him.
Located by Operation Last Chance, an initiative of Israel’s Simon Wiesenthal Centre, Zentai was arrested in 2005. The Hungarian Government applied for his extradition, alleging his involvement in the murder of Peter Balazs, a Jewish youth who was murdered in Budapest in 1944. Zentai denies the charges.
Federal Court chief justice Michael Black said the court would make its decision as soon as possible, while Zentai remains free on a $75,000 surety with an additional $50,000 bail.
The final decision on whether Zentai is extradited will be made by federal Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor.
