Croatian ex-spy chief in German custody

A former Croatian spy chief, who is accused of masterminding the murder of a Yugoslav dissident in 1983, will be kept in custody in Germany pending a formal indictment.

The German news agency dpa said a German judge decided today that Josip Perkovic should be kept in custody. He was extradited from Croatia yesterday.

The dissident, Stjepan Djurekovic, was killed on July 28, 1983, near Munich. The killing was allegedly carried out by the former Yugoslav secret service, which was notorious for eliminating opponents of the communist regime.

In 2005, Germany put out an international arrest warrant for Perkovic, implicating him in the slaying. Perkovic has denied any role in the murder.
 

It wasn't yet clear when the formal indictment would take place.