The Criminal Chamber of Spain's National Court has authorised the extradition of a Hungarian man residing in Arona, in the south of Tenerife, who is accused of kidnapping, illegal detention, and hostage-taking. The European arrest warrant issued by Hungarian authorities aims to bring the 28-year-old to trial in his home country, where he faces up to seven years in jail.
The case began in August when the Spanish SIRENE office, which processes international requests for supplementary information, reported the man’s arrest in Arona, which followed Hungary’s formal request, which led a Madrid court to initially agree to his extradition in September. However, the accused appealed the decision, prompting a further review by the National Court, which has now upheld the extradition order.
Defence arguments included claims that Hungary's request lacked sufficient detail, with no final judgment provided to allow for an appeal. The defence also argued that a drug possession charge mentioned in the extradition request related only to a quantity intended for personal use, a non-criminal offence under Spanish law, which they claimed justified refusal of extradition.
However, the National Court clarified that the extradition request pertains strictly to the charges of kidnapping, illegal detention, and hostage-taking. The Hungarian authorities specified that this was an active criminal investigation rather than a completed prosecution, dismissing the defendant’s claim regarding the drug-related issue as irrelevant to the case.
As a result, the court has authorised the man’s extradition to Hungary, where he will face trial for the alleged crimes.
