Mamic Refuses to Face Justice in Croatia

Former Croatian football club boss Zdravko Mamic, who has been convicted of financial crimes in Croatia, on Friday said he would not agree to voluntary extradition from Bosnia where he is also a citizen.

"I am proud citizen of Bosnia and do not want to be extradited to Croatia. I do not believe in their judiciary; they have violated all my rights," Mamic told a hearing at Bosnia's State Court.

The Bosnian court will decide on his possible extradition in the following days, regional TV station N1 reported. His lawyer said he had no legal obligation to return to Croatia as he is a citizen of Bosnia.

Mamic was arrested on Thursday in Medjugorje, southwest Bosnia. State Investigation and Protection Agency Police detained him on the basis of an Interpol warrant. The Croatian courts issued an international and European Arrest Warrant for Mamic on Tuesday.

Mamic, his brother, Zoran, Damir Vrbanovic, a former Dinamo director, and tax official Milan Pernar were convicted on June 6 of syphoning about 116 million kunas [15.5 million euros] out of the football club and defrauding the Croatian state of about 12.milion kuna [1.8 euros] in unpaid taxes.

In the first-instance verdict, Mamic was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment.

Mamic did not appear in court for the verdict having gone to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina the day before, although he denied he was fleeing justice.

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