Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Serbian Decision to Seek Extradition of Three Nazi War Criminals

Belgrade – The Simon Wiesenthal Center today warmly welcomed the decision, announced here today at a press conference convened by Serbian Justice Minister Snežana Malovic and chief war crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukčevic with the participation of the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff to seek the extradition of three Nazi war criminals, two of whom were discovered and exposed in the framework of the Center’s “Operation: Last Chance” project. The criminals in question are former Hungarian gendarmerie officer Dr. Sandor Kepiro, currently residing in Budapest Hungary; former Ustasha police chief of Požega, Croatia Milivoj Ašner, currently residing in Klagenfurt, Austria and former Belgrade Security Police operative Peter Egner, currently residing in Seattle, Washington, USA. The first two were found and exposed by the Wiesenthal Center.

In his remarks at the press conference, Dr. Zuroff stressed the practical and symbolic significance of the decision and praised the new Serbian government for undertaking this step which had hereto merely been discussed by its predecessors.

According to Zuroff:
“In today’s circumstances, in which the most difficult part of bringing Nazi war criminals to justice is often the lack of political will of governments to take the necessary action, Serbia’s decision to seek the extradition of Kepiro, Ašner and Egner sends a powerful message that the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the murderers and that it is still possible to bring the perpetrators of the Holocaust to the bar of justice. We hope that these requests will be issued as quickly as possible to maximize their impact.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

Jerusalem – The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the decision by an Australian court in Perth to allow the extradition to Hungary of Hungarian officer Charles Zentai who is wanted for murder committed in Budapest during the Holocaust. In a statement issued by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, who exposed Zentai in the framework of “Operation: Last Chance”, the Center expressed deep satisfaction that justice might finally be achieved.

According to Zuroff:

“Today’s decision brings us a giant step forward toward achieving historic justice. Our thoughts are with the family of Peter Balazs whom Zentai is alleged to have murdered in Budapest in November 1944. And it is only thanks to Peter’s father Dezso and his brother Adam, who collected the evidence of Zentai’s role in Peter’s murder, that the Wiesenthal Center was able more than three years ago to track down the person responsible for the crime. We urge the Australian authorities to expedite the case and complete the extradition process as quickly as possible so that justice can finally be achieved.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156

________________________________________________________________________

Jerusalem-The Simon Wiesenthal Center expressed deep satisfaction in the wake of the rejection today by the Australian Supreme Court of a legal challenge mounted by suspected Hungarian Nazi war criminal Charles Zentai to prevent his extradition to stand trial in Budapest for his crimes during World War II. (Zentai, together with a suspect wanted for fraud in Ireland, had claimed that the courts in Perth did not have the jurisdiction to rule in his extradition case, a technical argument which hereto had delayed his extradition to Hungary for more than two years.)

In a statement issued today by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center called upon the Australian authorities to expedite the extradition process to help ensure that justice is achieved, and warned that Zentai’s supporters would make every effort to present him as unable to stand trial even if this was not necessarily the case.

According to Zuroff:
“In these circumstances, it is important to remember that the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the perpetrators and that suspected killers should not be ignored simply because they have hereto eluded justice. The families of the victims are the ones who deserve our sympathy, not those who committed murder, and in this regard it is illuminating that it was Adam Balasz, the brother of Zentai’s alleged victim, Peter Balasz, who submitted the evidence to the Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem shortly after “Operation:Last Chance” was launched in Hungary, with a request that we try to track down and bring his brother’s murderer to justice.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156

________________________________________________________________________

Jerusalem – The Simon Wiesenthal Center today harshly criticized the decision of an Australian court to postpone for at least six months a decision which had hereto prevented the extradition from Australia to Hungary of Charles Zentai, a Nazi collaborator accused of murdering a Jewish teenager in Budapest during the Holocaust. In a statement issued today in Jerusalem, the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff expressed his deep frustration and exasperation with the Australian courts which have allowed a purely technical legal issue, in no way connected to the facts of the case, to prevent the extradition to stand trial of an accused Holocaust murderer.

According to Zuroff:

“By failing to resolve the technical challenge mounted by Zentai’s lawyers and postponing the decision by half a year, the Australian courts have significantly increased the likelihood of an accused Nazi murderer escaping trial and punishment. It is as if the court is entirely oblivious to the responsibility it should feel to Zentai’s victim, Peter Balazs and his family, who for decades sought to bring his killer to justice, and instead of expediting the extradition process have allowed its manipulation to help Zentai avoid his day in court.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156

________________________________________________________________________

Jerusalem - The Simon Wiesenthal Center today released the full text of its sixth Annual Status Report on the Worldwide Investigation and Prosecution of Nazi War Criminals, which covers the period from April 1, 2006 until March 31, 2007 and awarded grades ranging from A (highest) to F to evaluate the efforts and results achieved by more than three dozen countries which were either the site of Nazi crimes or admitted Holocaust perpetrators after World War II. more... ________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Urges Australian Authorities to Expedite
Extradition Proceedings Against Holocaust Perpetrator

Jerusalem – The Simon Wiesenthal Center has urged the Australian judicial authorities to expedite the extradition appeal process in the case of accused Holocaust perpetrator Charles Zentai, in the wake of today’s decision by a court in Perth to resume his case only on August 7, “lest the lengthy and numerous delays granted the accused ultimately facilitate his eluding justice.”

In a statement issued here today by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center noted that Zentai had already succeeded in postponing his appeal against the Hungarian request for his extradition to stand trial for murder in Budapest for more than two years, and that every delay only brought him closer to escaping prosecution.

According to Zuroff:

“The fact that Zentai has been able to delay his appeal for such a long time is an absolute travesty of justice. If Peter Balasz whom Zentai is accused of murdering on November 8, 1944 had been the beneficiary of similar delays, he would have survived the Holocaust [since Budapest was liberated from the Nazis in mid-February 1945], but that is a luxury that Zentai and his accomplices never afforded him. To date, the Australian justice system has proven to be overly kind to an individual whose alleged crimes clearly do not qualify him for any such consideration.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center’s Chief Nazi-Hunter Calls Upon Hungarian Government to Expedite Prosecution of Local Nazi War Criminals in Budapest Ceremony

Budapest – The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, today urged Hungarian leaders to make certain that local Nazi war criminals exposed by the Center’s “Operation: Last Chance” project would be brought to justice as quickly as possible.

Zuroff issued this call at the main Holocaust memorial in the Hungarian capital, where he appeared as a featured speaker alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Ference Gyurscany, Parliament Speaker Katalin Szili, Chief Rabbi Kardos and others, which was attended by thousands in the square beside the Dohany Street synagogue under the sponsorship of the Hungarian association of the “March of the Living.”

The criminals in question are gendarmerie officer Dr. Sandor Kepiro who is currently under investigation for his role in the mass murders carried out in Novi Sad in January 1942 and Karoly (Charles) Zentai wanted for murder in Budapest in 1944 and currently appealing his extradition to Hungary from Australia. Both were discovered in the framework of “Operation: Last Chance” and are on the Center’s April 2007 “Most Wanted List.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

צייד הנאצים הראשי של מרכז שמעון ויזנטל קרא בטקס בבודפשט לממשלת הונגריה
לזרז את הליכי העמדתם לדין של פושעי מלחמה נאצים

more...

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

WIESENTHAL CENTER PRESENTS PROOF OF SECOND CONVICTION OF HUNGARIAN WAR CRIMINAL DR. SANDOR KEPIRO AND SUBMITS NEW EVIDENCE TO BUDAPEST PROSECUTOR

Budapest- The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met here today with Prosecutor Zjolt Falvai, who is in charge of the new criminal investigation against convicted Hungarian war criminal Dr. Sandor Kepiro, who was discovered and exposed by Zuroff in the framework of the Center’s “Operation:Last Chance” project. Zuroff submitted new evidence regarding the crimes committed by Kepiro in the January 23, 1942 mass murder of 1,246 civilians in the Serbian city of Novi Sad (then under Hungarian occupation), as well as information concerning Kepiro’s likely involvement in the deportation of Jews to Auschwitz in the spring and summer of 1944. He also discussed further cooperation between the Center and the Hungarian judicial authorities in the investigation of this case.

In an additional development of significance in the case, Zuroff revealed that the Center had obtained proof that Kepiro had been convicted a second time in absentia in Hungary in 1946. (His initial conviction was in January 1944, but it was annulled following the Nazi occupation of Hungary and he was never punished for his crimes in Novi Sad.)

According to Zuroff:
“The confirmation that Kepiro was convicted a second time in Hungary reinforces the necessity of punishing him for his responsibility for crimes committed during the Holocaust. We have offered our fullest cooperation to the Hungarian authorities in this case and urged them to expedite their efforts to bring this arrogant war criminal to justice at long last.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER KOŠTUNICA AND PRESIDENT TADIĆ PROMISE ZUROFF FULLEST COOPERATION IN EFFORTS TO BRING NAZI WAR CRIMINALS KEPIRO, AŠNER AND ROJNICA TO JUSTICE

Belgrade- The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met here today with Serbian leaders to enlist their support in the ongoing efforts to facilitate the prosecution of three war criminals who committed crimes against Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies on the territory of former Yugoslavia during World War II. The cases in question are those of: former Hungarian gendarmerie officer Dr. Sandor Kepiro, who participated in the mass murder of civilians in Novi Sad in January 1942 and is currently living in Budapest; former Croatian police chief of the city of Slavonska Požega Milivoj Ašner, who orchestrated the persecution and murder of hundreds of civilians under his control and is currently residing in Klagenfurt, Austria; and the former Croatian governor of Dubrovnik, who carried out a policy of persecution and repression against Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies and presently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In separate meetings with Prime Minister Koštunica (together with Justice Minister Stojković and President Tadić, Zuroff stressed the need for Serbia to adopt a proactive stance on these cases and urged the Serbs to seek the extradition of all three criminals. Both Koštunica and Tadić expressed unqualified support for the Center’s attempts to facilitate the prosecution of Holocaust perpetrators and promised that the Serbian authorities would make every effort to provide evidence and political support for this effort.

According to Zuroff:
“I am encouraged by my meetings with both the Prime Minister and the President, whose support for the prosecution of Nazi war criminals was unequivocal, and hope that it will be translated into practical political and judicial action by the pertinent Serbian authorities as quickly as possible.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

WIESENTHAL CENTER BLASTS DECISION BY BUDAPEST MUNICIPAL COURT NOT TO IMPLEMENT JAIL SENTENCE OF CONVICTED BUT HERETO UNPUNISHED HUNGARIAN WAR CRIMINAL DR. SANDOR KEPIRO

Jerusalem- The Simon Wiesenthal Center today blasted the February 19 decision, announced today, of the Budapest Municipal Court not to implement the 1944 jail sentence meted out to Hungarian gendarmerie officer Dr. Sandor Kepiro for his participation in the mass murder of over 1,200 civilians (mostly Jews, the others primarily Serbs and Gypsies) on January 23, 1942 in the Serbian city of Novi Sad [in Hungarian-Ujvidek], then under Hungarian occupation.

In a statement issued in Jerusalem by its chief Nazi-hunte,r Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, who exposed Kepiro’s current whereabouts in Budapest several months ago, the Center expressed its outrage over the mistaken and misguided verdict, which according to Zuroff “grant a totally-undeserved prize to a unrepentant and cynical war criminal who has never been punished for his heinous crimes which have been fully verified by a Hungarian court of law.”

According to Zuroff:
“We firmly believe that this decision is morally unjust and legally flawed since it is based on Kepiro’s return to active service in May 1944, which was not due to his innocence of the original charges on which he was convicted, but rather a decision made possible by the Nazi occupation of Hungary in March 1944. We therefore urge the prosecution to appeal and if unsuccessful, to immediately initiate a full investigation of Kepiro’s criminal activities in 1942 and 1944 in order that he finally be held accountable for his terrible crimes. In that respect, it is important to remember that there is no limitation on prosecution of war crimes and that the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the perpetrators.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Demands Investigation by Hungarian Foreign Ministry of Role of Diplomats in Protecting Unpunished Nazi War Criminal Sandor Képiró

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today called upon the Hungarian Foreign Ministry to launch an official investigation into the role of Hungarian diplomats in protecting twice-convicted but hereto unpunished Nazi war criminal Dr. Sandor Képiró.

In a letter sent to Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Göncz, who is currently visiting Israel, the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff pointed to statements by Képiró indicating that officials of the Hungarian Embassy in Buenos Aires knew of his presence in Argentina and had told him in 1996 that he could return to Hungary without fear of prosecution. At that point, Képiró had been living in Argentina for close to 50 years having escaped from Europe following his convictions in 1944 and 1946 for his role in the mass murder of 1,246 civilians in the city of Novi Sad on January 23, 1942.

Among the questions posed by Zuroff to the Foreign Minister are:

1. Was the Képiró’s residence in Buenos Aires known to Hungarian diplomats? If so, from what date?
2. Was this information ever sent to Budapest and if so, to whom?
3. Did Hungarian diplomats indeed tell Képiró that he could return to Hungary without any fear of prosecution?

According to Zuroff:

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

Serbian Foreign Minister Drašković Expresses Support for Wiesenthal Center Initiative to Encourage Serbia to Seek Extradition of Three Nazi War Criminals

Jerusalem – Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković expressed his unqualified support for the recent initiative of the Simon Wiesenthal Center to encourage Serbia to seek the extradition of three Nazi war criminals, in a meeting held last night in Jerusalem with the Center's chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff.

The criminals under discussion are:

Zuroff welcomed the support of Foreign Minister Drašković and said that a proactive stance by the Serbian government might ultimately make the difference whether or not these Nazi criminals would finally be brought to justice.

All three cases have been the focus of intensive recent efforts by the Wiesenthal Center, with the latter two having been discovered by the Center in the framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” project which offers financial rewards for information which facilitates the prosecution and punishment of Holocaust perpetrators.

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Urges Serbian Government to Expedite Extradition of Holocaust Criminals in Meeting with Foreign Minister Drašković

Jerusalem – The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff urged the Serbian government to rapidly expedite the extradition to Belgrade for trial of three Holocaust war criminals in a meeting this evening in Jerusalem with visiting Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković.

The criminals under discussion are:

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
_________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Calls Upon Hungarian Government to Immediately Arrest Prominent Convicted War Criminal Living Unpunished in Budapest

Budapest - The Simon Wiesenthal Center today publicly urged the Hungarian government to immediately arrest Dr. Sandor Képiró, who has already been twice convicted in Hungarian courts for crimes committed during World War II but was never punished for his crimes. He was recently discovered living in Budapest in the framework of the Center’s “Operation: Last Chance” project.

מרכז שמעון ויזנטל קורא לממשלת הונגריה לאסור מיד את הפושע המלחמה הידוע
המורשע שחי חופשי בבודפשט

בודפשט – מרכז שמעון ויזנטל קרא היום לממשלת הונגריה לאסור מיד את דר' סאנדור קפירו, שהורשע כבר פעמיים על ידי בתי משפט בהונגריה בשל פשעים שביצע במלחמת העולם השנייה, אך לא ריצה את עונשו מעולם. קפירו, שחי בבודפשט, נחשף לאחרונה במסגרת "מבצע: הזדמנות אחרונה" של מרכז ויזנטל

במסיבת עיתונאים שהתקיימה היום בבודפשט, חשף דר' אפרים זורוף, צייד הנאצים הראשי של המרכז, שקפירו, אשר הורשע (בנוכחותו) בשנת 1944 ושוב (בהיעדרו) בשנת 1946 בגין חלקו ברצח כ 1,000 אזרחים בנובי סאד (אויוידק – בהונגרית) ב 21-23 בינואר 1942, חי ללא חשש בבירת הונגריה בעשור האחרון, לאחר שהתחבא בארגנטינה כמעט מחצית המאה.

:לדברי זורוף

"דר' סאנדור קפירו הוא פושע המלחמה ההונגרי החי הידוע ביותר, שטרם ריצה את עונשו. בהתחשב בכך שהוא הורשע כבר פעמיים, ובתפקידו הניכר בביצוע הרצח ההמוני בנובי סאד בשנת 1942, אנו קוראים לאסור אותו מיידית.
לפי גזר דינו מ-1944, כשקיבל קפירו הוראה לרכז יהודים, סרבים וצוענים בנובי סאד כדי לרצוח אותם הוא דרש "פקודות בכתב" , אך כשנאמר לו שפקודות כאלה ניתנות רק בעל פה, ביצע אותן בכל זאת. אנשים כקפירו הם בעלי מוסר מפלצתי משום שהיו מודעים היטב לפקודות הלא חוקיות ולא מוסריות שקיבלו אך בחרו לבצען בכל זאת."

למידע נוסף נא להתקשר לטל. 7214156-0506 ________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Dismissal of Zentai Challenge;
Urges Speedy Expedition of Appeal Process

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the rejection by the Federal Court of Australia of a legal challenge mounted by “Operation: Last Chance” suspect Charles Zentai to the authority of magistrates in Western Australia to hear his appeal against his pending extradition to Hungary to stand trial for crimes he committed during the Holocaust.

In a statement issued in Jerusalem, the Center’s chief Nazi–hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, said that the decision of the Federal Court was correct and prevented the abuse of the Australian legal system by a lawyer intent on preventing the just prosecution of his client at any cost.

According to Zuroff:

“The legal challenge mounted on Zentai’s behalf was purely technical and had no connection to the heinous crimes he is accused of committing. We no doubt will soon see additional irrelevant attempts by the defendant to convince the authorities not to send him back to the scene of his crimes, but in this regard it is extremely important to remember two principles:

1. The passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the perpetrator.
2. The fact that a person escaped justice for decades does not turn a murderer into an innocent person.

“We urge the Australian authorities to do whatever possible to expedite the Zentai case and thereby help facilitate the achievement of justice while it still can be obtained.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 ________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Nazi-Hunter Meets With Holocaust Survivors in Miskolc to Advance Investigation of “Operation: Last Chance” Hungarian Suspect

Miskolc- The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met here today with Holocaust survivors to attempt to advance an investigation currently underway against a suspect discovered in the framework of its “Operation: Last Chance” project who is alleged to have participated in the deportation of approximately 14,000 Jews from Miskolc to Auschwitz in June 1944.

The Center urges all survivors of Miskolc who were in the city during the mass deportations of Jews to Auschwitz to contact its Jerusalem office or (in Hungary) to call (06) 557-3981 for additional information.

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 ________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Submits Names of Two “Operation: Last Chance” Suspects to Hungarian Prosecutors

Budapest- The Simon Wiesenthal Center announced that its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, has today submitted the names of two Hungarians suspected of Nazi war crimes to prosecutors in Budapest. In a statement issued in Jerusalem, the Center noted that the suspects in question, whose names and current whereabouts were not publically released for security reasons, were suspected of active participation in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Both were discovered in the framework of the Center’s “Operation: Last Chance” project (run in conjunction with the Targum Shlishi Foundation of Miami, Florida) which offers financial rewards for information which facilitates the prosecution and punishment of Holocaust perpetrators.

To date, the Center had received the names of 14 Hungarian suspects, four of which (including the two submitted yesterday) have been submitted to Hungarian prosecutors, since the project was launched in Budapest on July 13, 2004. The initial two names submitted have yielded an extradition request for former Hungarian army officer Charles Zentai from Australia and the opening of an official investigation for genocide (against former Arrow Cross youth leader Lajos Polgar).

In that respect, the Center wants to note the excellent cooperation received hereto from the Hungarian judicial authorities. “We hope and expect that the good cooperation forged between the Center and the Hungarian prosecutors in the case of Zentai and Polgar will continue in the new cases submitted today,” said Zuroff after this meeting at the office of the Prosecutor-General.

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 ________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Presents New Evidence on Atrocities at Arrow Cross Headquarters in Budapest

Melbourne – The Simon Wiesenthal Center today presented new evidence regarding the persecution, torture, and murder of Jews carried out at Arrow Cross headquarters in Budapest during the winter of 1944/1945 as part of its efforts to bring wartime fascist leader, and current Melbourne resident, Lajos Polgar to justice. At a press conference held at the Melbourne Holocaust Center , the Center's chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff presented Holocaust survivor Suzanne Nozick who, together with her mother, was tortured and raped at Arrow Cross headquarters, which were under the authority of Polgar who was a youth leader of the Hungarian fascist movement. After being tortured for several days, Mrs. Nozick and her mother were marched, along with other Jews who had been held at Arrow Cross headquarters, to the banks of the Danube River , where they were shot. Mrs. Nozick's mother was murdered, as were the others, while she miraculously survived.

Dr. Zuroff announced that he had already discussed the new evidence in the Polgar case with an official of the Australian Federal Police, and would be submitting the testimony as well as additional trial records to the Australian authorities within the coming two weeks.

According to Zuroff: “The irony of the case is that despite the mighty efforts of Polgar and his fellow Arrow Cross members to annihilate Hungarian Jewry, at least one of their intended victims has survived to tell the tale and found refuge in the same city as the person in charge of the site of her torture. We urge both the Hungarian and Australian authorities to make every effort to ensure that Lajos Polgar will be held accountable for these crimes.”

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 ________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Urges Australian Justice Minister and Attorney-General to Take Necessary Action to Prevent “Operation: Last Chance” Suspect Charles Zentai From Eluding Justice

Canberra – The Simon Wiesenthal Center's chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff met here today with Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison and Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock in order to discuss the latest developments in the pending extradition of “Operation: Last Chance” suspect Charles Zentai to Hungary to stand trial for his World War II crimes, which was recently postponed for approximately five weeks on the legal technicality of dubious validity. In the meetings, Zuroff raised his concern that Zentai's lawyers would seek any means available to prevent his extradition and effectively “abuse the legal system” to help him avoid being put on trial

Both Justice Minister Ellison and Attorney-General Ruddock clearly indicated that they would not allow the extradition to be prevented by unworthy delaying tactics. They assured Zuroff and Australia-Israel Jewish Affairs Committee director Dr. Colin Rubenstein, who accompanied him to the meetings, that the government viewed the prosecution or extradition of war criminals as an important objective and would take whatever steps were necessary to see to it that justice was achieved within the framework of Australian law.

After the meetings, Zuroff expressed cautious optimism that Zentai would indeed be extradited, noting that such a trial would not only be the first successful legal action taken by Australia against a Nazi war criminal resident in the country, but would also be the first trial of a Hungarian Nazi war criminal in Hungary since that country became a democracy.

Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Arrest in Perth of “Operation:Last Chance” Suspect Zentai Following Approval by Australian Justice Minister Ellison of Hungarian Extradition Request; Urges Prompt Completion of Process so that Justice Can Be Achieved

In a statement issued by Zuroff today in Jerusalem , the Center expressed its deep satisfaction with the decision of Justice Minister Ellison and urged the Australian authorities to expedite the extradition process so that justice in the Zentai case could finally be achieved. Zuroff also cautioned that Zentai might attempt to prevent his extradition by exaggerating existent health issues and/or creating imaginary ailments, as have other suspected Nazi war criminals facing extradition and prosecution for their crimes.

According to Zuroff: “Today's decision moves us another step closer to achieving justice and is a powerful reminder that Nazi war criminals can still be held accountable for their crimes. His extradition to stand trial in Budapest will constitute the first successful legal action taken in Australia against a Holocaust perpetrator and we look forward to that taking place as quickly as possible.”

Wiesenthal Center and Targum Shlishi Welcome Extradition Request By Hungary for “Operation:Last Chance” Suspect Zentai; Urge Australian Authorities to Expedite Extradition to Achieve Justice

In a statement issued today in Jerusalem by the Center's chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff and Targum Shlishi's founder and director Aryeh Rubin, the two organizations called upon Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison and the Australian judicial authorities to ensure that the extradition process would proceed as quickly as possible within the framework of the law and the existent extradition treaty between the two countries.

According to Zuroff and Rubin: ”The passage of time in no way diminishes the severity of the crimes committed during the Holocaust and the importance of holding the perpetrators of those crimes accountable. The extradition request submitted by Hungary creates an excellent opportunity for Australia to take successful legal action for the first time against a Nazi war criminal who, based on false or incomplete information, was able to illegally gain entry to Australia . Hungary has hereto taken all the necessary steps to achieve justice in this case, and now it is Australia 's obligation to do its share to help complete the process.”

Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Decision by Hungarian Judge to Issue International Arrest Warrant for “Operation: Last Chance” Suspect Charles Zentai

In a statement issued in Jerusalem by its chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center expressed its satisfaction with the latest development in the case, which it had initiated following receipt in the framework of “Operation: Last Chance” of evidence regarding Zentai’s involvement in Holocaust crimes.

“Hungary has taken the requisite first step today toward bringing this suspected murderer to justice and we are hopeful that he will finally be held accountable for his crimes, preferably in Hungary where they were committed. We congratulate the Hungarian judicial authorities and military prosecutor for their prompt action to date, and urge them to take whatever steps are necessary to expedite the process of extradition and prosecution. The fact that Zentai has hereto eluded justice for so many years, in no way diminishes his culpability and should not be a factor in this case,” said Zuroff.

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156 ________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Request for Arrest Warrant of “Operation: Last Chance” Suspect Zentai Submitted by Hungarian Authorities

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the request for an arrest warrant against “Operation: Last Chance” suspect Charles (Karoly) Zentai submitted this week by the Hungarian military prosecutor to a judge in Budapest . This is the requisite first step which must be taken before Hungary can issue an official request for the extradition of Zentai who currently resides in Perth , Australia . The judge has 15 days to rule on the request.

“We welcome this step by the Hungarian military prosecutor,” said the Center's chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff who met earlier this month in Budapest with military prosecutor Ference Nemesz and other Hungarian Justice Ministry officials to submit a list of potential witnesses in the Zentai case and offer the Center's assistance in the investigation.

Zuroff expressed cautious optimism that Zentai would finally be held accountable for his crimes and noted that the Center preferred that he be tried in Budapest , the site of his crimes, rather than in Australia . “A trial in Hungary , where the alleged crimes were committed by Zentai, who served at that time in the Hungarian Army, would have far greater significance in public terms than if he were tried in Australia . In this regard, the educational and social dimensions of such a legal process should not be underestimated,” said Zuroff.

Wiesenthal Center And Targum Shlishi Foundation Initiate New “Operation:Last Chance” Hotline In Hungary”

In a press conference held here today, the Center’ chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff revealed the new number (06) 205-500-142 and issued a call to the Hungarian public to submit all pertinent information and especially details regarding its number one Hungarian suspect Karoly (Charles) Zentai, a Hungarian army officer who is accused of the murder of at least one Jewish teenager in Budapest in November 1944 and of the persecution and torture of numerous additional Jews kidnapped by Zentai and two fellow army officers who were tried for their crimes after World War II. Zentai escaped from Hungary and was tracked down by the Center in Perth Australia, where he has been living since 1950.

Zuroff, who met with officials of the Hungarian Justice Ministry yesterday regarding the case, expressed his hope that Zentai would be tried in Hungary as quickly as possible, in accordance with the Wiesenthal Center’s preference that Nazi war criminals be brought to justice in the country in which they committed their crimes or in their country of origin.

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156

Wiesenthal Center Submits to Hungarian Justice Ministry List of Potential Witnesses in Case of Suspected Nazi War Criminal Charles Zentai Discovered in Framework of “Operation:Last Chance”

Zuroff met with Dr. Laszlo Lang, director of the Department for the Supervision of Investigations; Military Prosecutor Ferenc Nemesz; Dr.Eva Kis; and Dr. Katalin Veres and urged them to expedite the investigation in order to ensure that justice will be achieved. He also offered the Center’s assistance in examining the case and submitted a list of eleven potential witnesses.

Zuroff also noted that it is already clear from the available documentation and witness testimony, that Zentai was involved in additional crimes against Jews in Budapest in 1944 besides the murder of Peter Balazs.

For more information call 00-972-50-7214156
________________________________________________________________________

Wiesenthal Center Urges Hungarian and Australian Authorities to Expedite Investigation of Suspected Hungarian Nazi War Criminal living in Perth, Australia Discovered by “Operation: Last Chance”

Wiesenthal Center Rejects Claim of Illegality
of “Operation: Last Chance” in Hungary

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today totally rejected the charge by parliament ombudsman Attila Peterfalvi that “Operation: Last Chance” was engaged in illegal activity by examining information regarding crimes committed during the Holocaust in Hungary.