Australian Court Grants Bail for Fugitive Pending Extradition Due to Medical Conditions

On May 24, 1999, the Federal Court of Australia overturned denial of bail by the Magistrate on an extradition of a Hungarian national. The fugitive was T, a Hungarian national who emigrated to Australia in 1995 and acquired Australian citizenship two years later. In May 1997, Hungarian authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of T, alleging “fraud, causing considerable prejudice” contrary to the Hungarian Criminal Code. In particular, the Hungarians alleged that in 1992 T wanted to sell a holiday home that he owned jointly with his father-in-law. The prospective buyer wanted to demolish the structure on the property. T’s father-in-law did not agree to the structure’s demolition. The house subsequently was destroyed in a fire and T made an insurance claim that was paid although the insurer suspected that T may have destroyed the house. Hungarian officials arrested T on suspicion of starting the fire, but released him for lack of evidence…[more]