The Federal Supreme Court in Brasilia will begin shortly to consider extradition requests from four countries for wanted Nazi war criminal Gustav Franz Wagner who was arrested near Sao Paulo 13 months ago .His extradition to stand trial is sought by West Germany, Israel, Poland and Austria. Attorney General Firmino Ferreira Da Poz shares the opinion of his immediate predecessor, Henrique Fonseca de Araujo, that Germany has the most valid claim.
But Israel’s request is expected to be given serious consideration. The Plenipotentiary of the Israeli government in the Wagner case, Jacob Dolinger, a Rio-based lawyer, has distributed a 203-page petition among all 11 justices of the Supreme Court. The petition refers to opinions by 40 prominent law experts, world-wide, up holding Israel’s claim.
Wagner remains confined to a mental has pital in Brasilia. His attorney, Flavio Marx, says his condition has worsened to a point where, unless treatment is administered immediately, a “dead body” will eventually be extradited Marx has asked that Wagner be removed to a psychiatric hospital in Sao Paulo for the needed treatment. According to Sao Paulo police sources, such a move would carry a great risk of Wagner’s escape to “a neighboring country” where Nazi criminals are well protected.
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