Poland Requests Extradition From Costa Rica of Man Accused of Killing Jews
22 November 2003

Poland has asked Costa Rica to extradite a Ukrainian citizen who Polish authorities say killed Jews while serving as a Nazi officer during World War II.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar said Friday that the Polish Embassy in San Jose requested Bodhan Koziy's extradition. Mr. Koziy has lived in the Central American nation for the past two decades.

Mr. Koziy is accused of killing a four-year-old Jewish girl and of participating in the murder of an entire family in 1943. Reports say a court order in 2001 to expel Mr. Koziy was frustrated because no country would take him. Costa Rican authorities say Mr. Koziy left Europe after the war ended and went to the United States, where he obtained residency in the 1950s. In the early 1980s, Mr. Koziy lost his U.S. citizenship after authorities accused him of lying about his identity. He denies the allegation.

Costa Rican authorities say they know where Mr. Koziy is living but that extradition could take months.