[JURIST] Former Serbian paramilitary commander Dragan Vasiljkovic, also known Daniel Sneddon, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of “war crimes” brought against him. The 61-year old Vasiljkovic will face a court [News Corp Australia report] in the port of Split in Croatia later this year. The charges levied against him include the torture and mass murder of Croats, including prisoners of war, and civilians during the Balkan War in 1991. Vasiljkovic, who was sent to Croatia in 2015, is the first person to be extradited from Australia for war crimes.

Vasiljkovic was first arrested in Australia in 2006, following an extradition request from the Croatian government. He fought his extradition in the Australian courts ever since, claiming that he would not be able to receive a fair trial in Croatia. Vasiljkovic has challenged extradition at least 13 times. In 2012 the Australian Minister for Justice formally approved Vasiljkovic’s extradition to Croatia [JURIST report].