A man facing charges of kidnapping and obstruction of justice will have a trial in Slovakia. On May 13, 2024, J.B.H. was extradited to Slovakia. This was on the basis of the Extradition Treaty between the European Union and the United States of America of 25 June 2003.
The sensitive case dates back to 2019, when a citizen of Israel and the United States took his two sons to the United States without their mother's consent. In doing so, he acted in violation of an urgent order of the Bratislava V District Court, which entrusted the children to the mother, a citizen of the Slovak Republic and Israel. It also prohibited the father from travelling with them outside Slovakia.
“The Bratislava V District Court issued an international arrest warrant for the offence of kidnapping under Section 210, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Code,” says Lucia Hurajtova, Justice Ministry spokesperson.
Repeated requests and additional information on the proceeding were sent to the US side during 2019 and 2022. In February 2023, J.B.H. was detained on the territory of the United States of America and in April 2024, after intensive communication with the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, the American authorities decided to extradite the wanted man to Slovakia. Lucia Hurajtova again:
“The extradition itself was carried out with the cooperation of the Interpol National Headquarters Bratislava,” concludes Hurajtova.
Justice Ministry
