The Kosovo-born businessman Baki Sadiki sentenced for drug trafficking in Slovakia is currently serving his sentence in a Slovak prison. The Sme daily wrote on Tuesday, February 5, that he has asked for a retrial.
His request will be assessed by the Prešov District Court, which sent him to jail for 22 years for heroin trafficking. Last October, internationally wanted Sadiki was caught in Gnjilan, Kosovo and was extradited to Slovakia on December 28. After the Prešov court receives all the necessary documents from Kosovo – as well as all the information stating the terms of Sadiki’s extradition to Slovakia and on whether the Kosovo side has any reservations, it can decide to re-open the case. Sadiki has the right to ask for a retrial, as he was effectively sentenced in absentia.
Sadiki, one of three men accused in a particularly serious case of illegal production, possession and trading in narcotics and, more specifically, smuggling heroin from Turkey to Slovakia hidden in imported beach sandals, was sentenced in absentia to 22 years’ imprisonment by the Prešov District Court on June 13, 2011. After several years at large, he was arrested as part of an international Interpol police operation called Infrared on October 25.
(Source: Sme)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
