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Swede suspected of war crimes in Serbia

Published: 14 Jul 11 13:49 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/34934/20110714/

A Swedish citizen was remanded into custody in Serbia on Wednesday after having been picked up by Serbian border police when entering the country. According to the Swedish foreign ministry he is suspected of war crimes.

“We have been informed that a Swedish man has been detained by Serbian border police,” Anna Björkander of the foreign ministry information department confirmed to The Local.

The man, who is in his mid-forties, is currently being held in custody in Belgrade and according to Björkander he is suspected of war crimes.

“We have received information indicating that he is suspected of war crimes in Kosovo in the late 1990’s,” she said.

So far the Swedish embassy has not been allowed to see the man but according to Björkander the Swedish ambassador put in a formal request to meet him on Thursday.

“We are hoping to see him shortly, but we don’t know when that will be yet,” Björkander said.

As the embassy staff haven’t been able to see the man, Björkander was not able to say what his reactions to the accusations are.

However, according to news agency TT, the man’s Belgrade-based lawyer says that he was in Sweden at the time that the crimes allegedly were committed and that the police have arrested the wrong person.

The man, who is from the Gothenburg-area, was traveling to Kosovo with his family where they were due to go on holiday, when he was taken into custody by border police between Hungary and Serbia.

According to Björkander there will be a hearing on Monday in Belgrade.

“We don’t know whether we will be able to attend, but we will be following the process closely,” Björkander told The Local.

TT/Rebecca Martin (news@thelocal.se)

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17:55 July 14, 2011 by The Grand Master
Here we go again, a 'SWEDISH CITIZEN' is accused of war crimes. Bet his name ain't Svensson. Any chance this country might do a bit of background checking on it's new 'CITIZENS' before granting them the rights citizenship entails?

Seriously, Citizenship is a major thing (honour even?) to grant someone not born here, shame it gets abused so often.
18:27 July 14, 2011 by calebian22
To be fair, the Local has gotten much better about clarifying "Swedish citizen," over the past couple of years. This story, however is not a good example.
21:33 July 14, 2011 by cutthecrap
What has gone wrong??? Swedish people have always been known for their peace and good karma. I can't imagine what has happened to the Swedish people for a citizen of swedish nationality to be commiting war crimes.
22:55 July 14, 2011 by Ivan Juric
The Swedish authorities are peculiar, they give citizenships to thugs like this yet hound an Aussie who had consensual sex...Femo nazism gone mad....
00:37 July 15, 2011 by cutthecrap
I was once considering Sweden as a holiday destination for my family, but incredibly Sweden is no longer a safe place to be, and I am now looking elsewhere. I read regularly of bombs, a police station being strafed by machine gun, lots of arson, and murders, and now a Swedish man commiting war crimes!!!
00:43 July 15, 2011 by Swedesmith
I'd venture to say that Sweden is a lot safer than many holiday destinations in the US. Not as safe as it used to be...but where in the world is?
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