Slovakia: K. Albanian to be tried in absentia

A court in the Slovak town of Presov has decided to try in absentia Kosovo Albanian Baki Sadiki, who is accused of smuggling 120 kg of cocaine. Slovakia did not manage to have the suspect, who holds a Slovak passport, extradited from Kosovo where he is hiding. The trial will begin on January 24, 2011. Slovakia: K. Albanian to be tried in absentia Two of Sadiki’s Slovak accomplices, in whose vehicles the drugs were found, will also stand trial. They are looking at 20 to 25 years or even life in prison if found guilty. Slovak media report that Sadiki, who is officially a businessman, is the head of the Kosovo Albanian mafia in Slovakia. He managed to escape before his home was searched earlier this year. Sadiki allegedly had to go to Albania on business but Slovak police tracked him down in Kosovo in May where he is living as a free man. The Slovak Justice Ministry during the time of the previous government of Prime Minister Robert Fico sent an arrest warrant for Sadiki and extradition request to Belgrade and not to Pristina. Then Justice Minister Viera Petrikova explained this by saying that Slovakia did not recognize Kosovo’s independence and that it considered it a part of Serbia. New Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska sent request for Sadiki’s arrest and extradition last summer to EU and UN missions in the province, EULEX and UNMIK respectively.

Slovakia: K. Albanian to be tried in absentia

Two of Sadiki’s Slovak accomplices, in whose vehicles the drugs were found, will also stand trial.

They are looking at 20 to 25 years or even life in prison if found guilty.

Slovak media report that Sadiki, who is officially a businessman, is the head of the Kosovo Albanian mafia in Slovakia. He managed to escape before his home was searched earlier this year.

Sadiki allegedly had to go to Albania on business but Slovak police tracked him down in Kosovo in May where he is living as a free man.

The Slovak Justice Ministry during the time of the previous government of Prime Minister Robert Fico sent an arrest warrant for Sadiki and extradition request to Belgrade and not to Priština.

Then Justice Minister Viera Petrikova explained this by saying that Slovakia did not recognize Kosovo’s independence and that it considered it a part of Serbia.

New Justice Minister Lucia Žitnanska sent request for Sadiki’s arrest and extradition last summer to EU and UN missions in the province, EULEX and UNMIK respectively.