Accused Nazi Wants Actions Halted

Days after the denaturalization and deportation proceedings against three accused Nazis were stopped, the lawyer for accused war criminal Josef Nemsila requested a halt in actions against his client.

The lawyer, who wanted the proceedings stayed on the basis of judicial interference, also said an improper discussion took place between a chief justice and a Justice Department official.

A decision in that case is expected July 18.

Nemsila was allegedly a district commander in the notorious Hlinka Guard in the Nazi vassal state of Slovakia. He also is accused of participating in the roundup of the country’s 100,000 Jews and in their deportation to Auschwitz and other death camps in Poland.

On July 4, Judge Bud Cullen halted proceedings against three accused Nazis in Canada — Johann Dueck, Helmut Oberlander and Erichs Tobiass — because of what he said was a breach of judicial independence.

The breach allegedly involves an assistant deputy justice minister asking a chief justice to speed up the proceedings against the accused Nazis.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following is an add to the story appearing in the July 8 JTA Daily Dispatch on the halt in proceedings against three accused Nazis in Canada. Please insert the following after the 9th graf.

Days after the deportation proceedings against the three accused Nazis were stopped, the lawyer for a fourth accused war criminal, Josef Nemsila, requested a halt in actions against his client on the basis of judicial interference.

The lawyer said an improper discussion took place between a Canadian chief justice and a Justice Department official.

A decision is expected July 18.

Nemsila was allegedly a district commander in the notorious Hlinka Guard in the Nazi vassal state of Slovakia. He also is accused of participating in the roundup of the country’s 100,000 Jews and their deportation to Auschwitz and other death camps in Poland.