French authorities informed Slovenia's General Police Directorate (GPU) last week that they agreed to extradite the convicted Časar. The GPU organized the handing over of the convict. Časar was flown in from Paris to the Jože Pučnik airport with Air France. He was then taken to Dob prison a little before 1 p.m.

At a press-conference the general director of the Slovenian Prison Administration, Jože Podržaj, said that Časar will begin serving his five years and nine months prison sentence in the closed prison section at Dob. He said that Časar was currently in the prison's reception center and will remain there for the next 30 days. "Regarding the fact that he was a fugitive, the reception period will last a little longer than usual," explained Podržaj and added that by running away Časar undermined his chances of serving his sentence in a semi-open section.

"By avoiding his prison sentence he has only made it more difficult for himself. At the same time he has made it easier for us to decide whether to put him in a closed or semi-open section. However our decision is not final for his whole prison sentence, and it can be reviewed after a certain period," said Podržaj. Regarding the possibility of prison leaves, Podržaj said that nobody is allowed to leave prison until they've served at least a fifth of their sentence.

The prisoner has already been interviewed by prison officials. He will also undergo a medical check-up on Thursday. If Časar were to have serious health issues, a doctor could also visit Časar today.

Nearly one year on the run
Robert Časar failed to report at the Dob prison on the 14th of March, 2014, to start serving his prison sentence. The police then issued an international arrest warrant. He was tracked down with the help of Interpol in the Dominican Republic. From there he was deported to France.

Časar was in Paris from the beginning of the month. During his hearing in the Court of Appeals in the French capital, Časar expressed his wish to be returned home as soon as possible, as he described the Paris prison conditions as very bad. He explained that only one of the prison employees spoke English, and that even he wasn't always available. The French court reportedly commended Časar's readiness to cooperate with the law.

Al. Ma.; translated by K. J.