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 Mello’s swift extradition after, legal disputes have kept him in Belize.
A court first released him on August 3, but as soon as he left jail, the police arrested him again and charged him with violating two immigration laws – pertaining to the invalid Slovak passport he used to gain permanent residence in Belize – and perjury – as Mello had claimed he did not face any criminal charges in his home country.
He was again freed by a 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 has 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, Belize’s capital, on August 28, with the court scheduling the case to be heard on September 17, TASR wrote.
