War crimes suspect contests extradition ruling

An 87-year-old Australian citizen accused of killing a Jewish teenager in Hungary during World War II has asked an Australian court to prevent his extradition to Hungary.

Charles Zentai appeared in Federal Court in the Western Australian city of Perth today to appeal an earlier court ruling that would make him eligible for extradition.

If the earlier decision is upheld, Australia’s federal government will make the final determination on whether Zentai should be extradited.

Zentai is listed by the US-based Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Centre among its 10 most wanted Nazis.

Hungary accuses Zentai of torturing and killing Peter Balazs for failing to wear a star that would identify him as a Jew.

Zentai said today that a polygraph test proves he is innocent.