Bail application for Arkan's killer postponed

The Serbian convicted of killing warlord Arkan in Belgrade, and who was allegedly driving local underworld figure Cyril Beeka when he was shot dead in March, has had his bail application postponed to Wednesday.

Dobrosav Gavric, 38, was due to apply for bail in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

"His application for bail has been postponed. It will be heard on Wednesday," National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said.

Gavric has been in custody at the Sea Point police station since his arrest on an extradition warrant in December.

Attorney Juan Smuts said Gavric had given his full co-operation to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks).

Smuts said his client was "seriously ill" and would fight an extradition request. Gavric handed himself over to the Hawks in Bellville, Cape Town, last month.

According to the Serbian news website B92, Gavric was arrested in 2001 after he allegedly took part in the assassination of two people and wounded a civilian who later died in hospital.

One of those he allegedly killed was feared warlord Zeljko Raznatovic, also known as Arkan. Arkan was a Serbian paramilitary leader killed in January 2000. He was accused of crimes against humanity during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1992 until 1995 by the Hague Tribunal.

Gavric denied being involved in the murder. He was sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison.

According to B92, Gavric was spotted in restaurants while visiting his family in a Serbian town.

South African police obtained a warrant for Gavric's arrest after they received an extradition request from Serbian officials.

Beeka was shot dead while he was a passenger in a BMW 4X4 allegedly driven by Gavric near the University of the Western Cape on March 21. Gavric was shot in the chest.