Karol Mello, a Slovak fugitive who has been charged with organising at least three murders back in 2003 and 2004, has filed a lawsuit against the Belizean government for revoking his permanent residency permit, the TASR newswire reported on August 30.
Mello was detained by Belizean police on July 11, as a result of a police operation organised by Interpol in cooperation with Slovak police. Although Slovak officials sought a quick extradition, since he was arrested by immigration police, legal complications kept Mello in Belize.
The court released him for the first time on August 3, but as soon as he departed from jail, the police arrested again him and charged him with violating two immigration laws pertaining to the invalid Slovakian passport he used to gain permanent citizenship in Belize, and perjury, as Mello had claimed he does not face any criminal charges in his homeland.
Yet, he was then freed by the Belizean court on August 20 after the judge ruled that the charges against him were weak.
The Immigration Ministry in Belize annulled the residence permit explaining that Mello received it under false pretences. His lawyer, Godfrey Smith said that his client wants to stay in Belize nonetheless, and is ready to accept the possible consequences.
The first preparatory proceeding took place in Belmopan on August 28, with the court setting the beginning of the trial to September 17.
Source: TASR
For more information about this story please see: Belizean authorities revoke Mello’s residency
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
