Dual citizen fights extradition to Poland

A man accused in Poland of hiring a hit man to kill a prominent law enforcement officer appears to be planning a fierce fight to avoid extradition from Chicago to that nation.

While Edward Mazur is a Polish citizen, he will argue at an upcoming extradition hearing that he is also a U.S. citizen and that citizenship means he shouldn't be taken out of the country.

In asking for more time to make a case for keeping his client in the country, Mazur's lawyer also worked to paint Poland's case as weak.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys scheduled a Nov. 15 extradition hearing for Mazur, whose arrest last week grabbed national headlines in Poland.

Mazur was arrested on a warrant out of Poland that accuses him of paying a hit man $40,000 to kill the chief superintendent of the Polish police, Gen. Marek Papala.

Mazur appeared in federal court on Wednesday in an orange jumpsuit, his legs shackled and hair disheveled.

'Uphill battle . . . persuade me'

Mazur's lawyer, Christopher Gair, said there was no compelling evidence against his client. He said Mazur had been questioned by Polish authorities in the past, and was released without charges. Little or no new evidence has emerged since then, and the current allegations are based on testimony from a known "perjurer," Gair told Keys.

"Political considerations may be at work," Gair said.

Keys declined to release Mazur on bond as he awaits his next hearing date. Gair argued that Mazur is an established businessman and family man in Glenview.

If he wanted to flee he would have by now, Gair said. Poland's interest in Mazur was no secret as a warrant was issued a year and a half ago for Mazur's arrest, he argued. Gair called him a "poster child" for someone who wouldn't flee.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Mars said that the Polish government "strongly and unequivocally" opposed bond, and said case law supports the government's position to extradite.

Gair countered that Mazur's dual citizenship makes him a special case.

"You have an uphill battle, but you can try to persuade me," Keys told Gair.

Source:By Natasha KoreckiFederal Courts Reporter, suntimes.com