Kalejs may never go on trial: Australian newspaper

RIGA - Latvian-Australian Konrads Kalejs, charged with war crimes during World War II, may never go on trial as he is believed to have Alzheimer's disease, reported The Herald Sun, one of Australia's largest newspaper.

According to the front-page report, Kalejs, 88, is mainly confined to bed and barely able to communicate with friends and the staff of the old people's home where he lives.

The newspaper said Kalejs is highly confused and needs full-time care. It quoted a fellow resident as saying Kalejs' "days are numbered."

In two weeks, the Federal Court will start hearing the first of Kalejs' appeals against moves to extradite him to Latvia to face war crimes and genocide charges. But his fate may eventually be decided by the Australian federal government.

Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison has the discretion to overrule any extradition order after taking into account Kalejs' age and health, reported The Herald Sun.

An independent neuropsychological assessment in late July said, "There is no doubt that Kalejs has moderate to severe advancing dementia, most likely Alzheimer's disease."

A report by another specialist in March said Kalejs would have difficulty understanding complex legal processes.

On May 30, Melbourne magistrate Lisa Hannan ordered his extradition to Latvia, with an appeal due to be held in October.

In September 2000 Latvia officially charged Kalejs with genocide and war crimes, based on Kalejs' activities in 1942 and 1943 when he commanded a perimeter guard unit at the Salaspils labor camp not far from the Latvian capital Riga during the Nazi occupation.

Jewish and human rights organizations claim Kalejs was an officer with the Nazi death squad called the Arajs Commando, responsible for murdering thousands of Latvian Jews.

Kalejs admits he was one of Arajs men but denies having had any part in atrocities committed by the unit. If he is found guilty, he will face a life sentence.