Britain decides on extradition of Albanian key witness

LONDON, March 25 – A London court decided that Ilir Kumbaro, 55, a former intelligence chief, who was wanted worldwide on torture and kidnapping charges for the disappeared Albanian-Macedonian businessman Remzi Hoxha, should be extradited back to his homeland.
Kumbaro was arrested in London after living in Britain for 13 years under a false identity while receiving government assistance. He had asked for asylum as a refugee from Kosovo fleeing Serbian persecution.
Kumbaro was arrested in London in October after an international man hunt from Interpol and Britain’s Scotland Yard.
He is accused of kidnapping and torturing at least three Albanians.
The London court found that the defendant was indeed Ilir Kumbaro and that his extradition to Albania would not breach his human rights. The case has now been referred to the Foreign Secretary David Milliband to rule on his extradition.
Kumbaro and three other officials of the secret police have been accused over Hoxha’s torture and murder.
The four former SHIK officers are accused of abducting Hoxha, Zizo Kristopoli and Avdyl Loshaj on October 21, 1995. Prosecutors believe that after being placed in a SHIK safe house in the town of Lezha, in northern Albania, the three were tortured by the defendants, while Hoxha died as a result of wounds inflicted during the torture.
Remzi Hoxha’s body has never been found.
The reasons behind the abduction and torture remain unclear.
The defendants all pleaded not guilty.
Amnesty International welcomed the court decision to allow Kumbaro’s extradition to face charges of abduction and torture in his home country.
Amnesty expects that Ilir Kumbaro will now be returned to Albania where he will stand trial, together with two other former secret police officers, on charges that he took part in the abduction and torture of three men in October 1995, said Amnesty.
Amnesty International has campaigned for many years for those responsible for Remzi Hoxha’s enforced disappearance to be brought to justice, and has been observing the extradition proceedings in London.
“There can be no safe havens for torturers and kidnappers – all countries should ensure that human rights abusers can find nowhere to hide. With this decision the UK is furthering the cause of international justice,” said Amnesty International Director Kate.