Last year the Zagreb County Court sentenced Petrac to six years in prison for masterminding the abduction of General Vladimir Zagorec's underage son in February 2004. Since at the time he was on the run and the sentence was handed down in his absence, under the Croatia law he can apply to the Supreme Court for a retrial.
Petrac was arrested in Greece last year and put in prison in Igoumenica. Earlier this week he was transferred to extradition detention in Athens, which indicates that the extradition process is in its final stage.
On July 27, Greek Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras signed a decision granting Croatia's request for extradition, the Croatian Ministry of Justice said, adding that it received the decision through the Croatian Embassy in Athens.
"The start of the retrial is scheduled for 10.00 hours Friday, but unless the remodelling of the Zagreb County Court large courtroom is completed, the main hearing will be postponed for Monday, 2 October," judge Ivan Turidic said.
Petrac's attorney, Anto Nobilo did not wish to disclose how would his client be defended, adding however that new evidence, that should help Petrac, would be submitted.
"I expect the positive outcome becuase only now the real truth will be heard, given that this time my client will appear in court and all participants in this case would meet eye to eye," Nobilo said.
The then 17-year-old Tomislav Zagorac was kidnapped in front of the family house in Zagreb on 23 February 2004 and was released four days later after his father, retired General Vladimir Zagorec, paid 750,000 euros, half the ransom demanded. The ransom money has not been found to date.