Nazi suspect to fight extradition

Kalejs is accused of war atrocities

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Lawyers for a Nazi war crimes suspect have launched an appeal against a court's decision to extradite him to Latvia for trial.

A court in Melbourne, Australia, ruled on Tuesday that Konrads Kalejs, 87, could be sent to Riga to face charges relating to atrocities committed during World War II.

His lawyers immediately appealed against the decision, saying he was too ill to be extradited and describing the ruling as "inhumane and unjust."

Latvia indicted Kalejs for allegedly taking part in atrocities during the 1941-44 German occupation when about 80,000 Jews were killed.

He is accused of being a guard at the Salaspils concentration camp near Riga, where Jews and Russian prisoners of war were executed, tortured or died of malnutrition.

Kalejs denies the charges.

Latvian-born Kalejs, who arrived at the court in a wheelchair and was granted bail, travelled to Australia after the war and became a citizen.

He took Australian citizenship in 1957 and then moved to Britain after being kicked out of Canada in 1997 and the United States in 1994 for lying on entry forms about his war past.

He fled the UK to Melbourne after been tracked down last year.

"I am satisfied that Konrad Alfreds Kalejs is eligible for surrender to the Republic of Latvia in relation to the offences for which extradition is sought," said magistrate Lisa Hannan in the Melbourne court, the Associated Press reported.

If extradited, Kalejs would be the first suspected Nazi collaborator to face trial in Latvia since it regained independence after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

"It's obviously just one step and there's a few more to go but hopefully, ultimately, justice will be done," said Jamie Hyams of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council.

"If Kalejs is extradited it will be the first time that successful legal proceedings have been taken against an alleged Nazi war criminal in this country."

Defence lawyers say Kalejs is suffering from prostate cancer and dementia and is too ill to be extradited.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison told reporters on Tuesday he was committed to meeting the Latvian request, no matter what Kalejs' health.

"The government does remain committed to meeting its obligation," he said.