Damir Dokic’s appeal adjourned indefinitely

SREMSKA MITROVICA - Tennis player Jelena Dokic’s jailed father Damir’s appeal has been adjourned indefinitely, and he fears his appeal will only be heard some time in 2010 because of reforms in the Serbian judiciary.

Dokic, 50, who is serving a 15-month jail term for threatening to blow up the Australian ambassador to Serbia, was due to appeal against conviction and sentence today.

But the Sremska Mitrovica County Court, where the appeal hearing was to be held, has adjourned his case indefinitely because the presiding judge is unavailable to hear it.

Judge Svetlana Djuricic, who was due to preside over a panel of judges in the case, is not on the list of Serbian judges re-elected as of January 1 under recent sweeping reforms to the country’s justice system.

But the Serbian Supreme Court says all current judges must serve until December 31.

Dokic’s lawyer Bosiljka Djukic told Serbian media. “This is impermissible, as we have been waiting for the appeal for nearly two months. Dokic is paying for judicial reforms with his health.”

The developments come after Dokic - who suffers from severe diabetes - in October went on a hunger strike after a man convicted of similar offences in Serbia got a suspended jail term. (ANI)