Australian too unwell for prison

ONE of the Australian men detained in Serbia over a $500 million cocaine seizure has been moved to hospital.

Tristan Waters, 34, was moved out of the Padinska Skela prison, 30km from the capital Belgrade, to the Bezanijska Kosa medical clinic.

His lawyers argued he had earlier undergone surgery for digestive issues and faced complications due to the poor hygiene in the prison, which reportedly has rusty, broken toilets and unwashed sheets.

Waters’ associate, Rohan Arnold, 43, remains at Padinska, while a third Australian, David Campbell, 49, remains at Belgrade Central Prison.

The three men and a Lebanese national, Diab Geagea, were detained by Serbian Special Branch police a week ago.

Police say they seized $1 million cash from the men, and a gun, which they suspect was Mr Campbell’s.

He has been detained for 30 days while police investigate.

Mr Arnold and Mr Waters are not facing Serbian investigations and have been detained pending the arrival of an extradition application from Australia.

The Australian Federal Police said the men were wanted for questioning over a $500 million seizure of cocaine on a ship from China that docked in Sydney in April last year.

ELLEN WHINNETT