Extradition of Bandido linked to Queensland shooting hits snag

Police efforts to extradite a Bandidos bikie from Serbia to Queensland in relation to a 2012 shooting murder in Queensland has hit a hurdle.

Queensland police are working closely with Serbian authorities as they work to determine whether Bogdan Cuic has Australian or Serbian citizenship.

His citizenship will determine if police car have him extradited to Australia or if he could potentially face trial in Serbia.

Mr Cuic was listed as Australia’s most wanted man after he fled the country in April 2012, following the alleged shooting of 22-year-old Jei ‘Jack’ Lee in an Eight Mile Plains shopping centre carpark.

The 27-year-old arrested by Serbian police in Beočin in the country’s north when he attempted to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Mr Cuic then appeared before court in the town of Novi Sad where a judge ruled he remain in custody. He was then transferred to Klisa jail in the outskirts of the town where he remains.

"Australia has 18 days to send extradition papers or request an extension up to 40 days," a Serbian high court spokesperson said.

The process has already been delayed as police work to determine whether Cuic has dual citizenship, meaning it could be problematic as Australia has no extradition treaty with Serbia.

“It is criminal in both jurisdictions - dual criminality - which is one of the conditions for extradition - is clearly satisfied. It’s a straight forward case it terms of extradition,” International law expert Anthony Cassimatis said.

“Also Serbia is seeking to get into the European Union so there’s a lot of incentive on it.”