CROAT IMPRISONED IN SCOTLAND AGREES TO BE EXTRADITED TO CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 9060 ) ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - The Edinburgh, Scotland Sheriff on Friday discussed the extradition of Croatia's Vinko Sindicic, who is currently imprisoned in Scotland for attempted murder. According to the Croatian Justice Ministry, Sindicic withdrew all previous complaints to Croatia's demand for his extradition, signed a statement that he was not to complain to a higher body decision on his extradition to Croatia, and stated that he wished to return to Croatia. The signed statement is irrevocable, the Justice Ministry said. Sindicic is imprisoned in Scotland serving a 15-year term for the attempted murder of a Croatian political emigrant, Nikola Stedul, whom he shot at in Glasgow. Sindicic was sentenced in 1988. Croatia filed an extradition request in late June 1996 on suspicion that Sindicic murdered Bruno Busic, a Croatian emigrant, writer and journalist, in Paris in 1978. The request was made following an investigation and a Zagreb County Court custody decision. The Justice Ministry stated that Sindicic had forwarded a letter to the Croatian Embassy in London on Thursday stating that he would not oppose the extradition request and was expecting to return to Croatia soon. A decision on the extradition will be forwarded to the competent UK government minister for Scotland who will sign an extradition act within 30 days. (hina) ha 162049 MET oct 98