Man accused of being Lithuanian gang member on the run for 15 years agrees to extradition

EXCLUSIVE: A MAN arrested on suspicion of being a Lithuanian gang member, who has been on the run for more than 15 years, agreed to be extradited just two days after claiming they had got the wrong person.

The man was produced at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday, July 30 and accused of being Vaidotas Misiulis, 39, (above in police mugshot) who is wanted in his home country in connection with murder, robbery, GBH and fraud.

It was after he was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant from Lithuania.

The man was remanded into custody while further enquiries are carried out into his identity.

A record of the July 30 hearing said: "Adjournment reason: non-standard reason: dispute identity. Adjourned for enquiries to be made by the judicial authority (Lithuania)."

He was refused bail as it was felt he would be likely to abscond due to the nature and seriousness of the offences, including murder, and there is evidence of "forgery of passport."

Reports in Lithuania suggest Misiulis was part of a Lithuanian crime gang called The Hawks based in the city of Šiauliai.

Local reports said he was with nine other men on May 1 2004 at around 4am when there was a dispute with another group over a petty comment about one of the hawks being "hot" because he had a short-sleeved shirt.

Robert Caregorodtsev , 25, from the other group ended up being killed after a fight.

The other alleged offences took place from 2002 to 2004.

Seven men have been convicted in connection with the murder.

Misiulis absconded before the case reached court, the report said.

An article on Delfi.it said: "Vaidotas Misiulis, a member of the group, did not listen to the court's verdict, because in January 2007, before the court had even started examining the case, he hid from the authorities and is still hiding, so a separate pre-trial investigation was started against him."

The case at Westminster was adjourned until Monday, August 1.

At the second hearing Misiulis agreed to be extradited on a date to be set and he remained remanded into custody.