Wanted fugitive Radovan Karadzic developed alter ego as New Age doctor

David Charter in Belgrade, Bojan Pancevski, Rory Watson and Adam LeBor

Profile: Radovan Karadzic Commentary: Misha Glenny Opinion: David Owen Pictures: end of the road for fugitive Eyewitness: haunted woods in Srebrenica Eyewitness: horror of Sarajevo siege Factfile: the Balkans' recent history Q&A: Karadzic arrest World reaction to arrest
The mysterious old man with the flowing white beard who exuded spirituality and became a celebrated alternative healer went by the name of Dr Dragan David Dabic. Yesterday he was unmasked as one of the world’s most wanted fugitives, living an extraordinary double life in the midst of those seeking him for war crimes.
Radovan Karadzic may have been lionised in folk songs by Serb nationalists for his ability to avoid capture. Not even his most imaginative supporters would have guessed that he was hiding behind a New Age persona, providing a bio-energy boost and “human quantum energy” for clients in a Belgrade suburb.
Dr Karadzic, 63, the Bosnian Serb leader who had been on the run for nearly 13 years, was in a cell last night preparing to appeal against his extradition to The Hague, where he faces 11 charges, including genocide carried out allegedly on his orders.
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His arrest leaves the former General Ratko Mladic, Dr Karadzic’s military commander, as the most-wanted Bosnian Serb fugitive. Mr Mladic is widely believed to be hiding in Serbia, probably protected by sections of the Yugoslav military.
There was astonishment when police revealed the true identity of Dr Dabic, and disbelief among those who had been taken in. The distinctive mane of grey hair had been replaced by a snowy beard and glasses. His landlord had no idea who was renting the nondescript high-rise flat in New Belgrade.
“It was a brilliant camouflage,” said Goran Kojic, the editor-in-chief of a health magazine who knew “Dr Dabic” and published several of his articles on Serbian Orthodox meditation. “He left such a calm impression of a cultured man of great spirituality. He was funny, entertaining and eloquent, the sort of person you wanted as a friend.”
The Serb authorities gave details of the dramatic arrest of Dr Karadzic yesterday, suggesting that they had been following a circle of his supporters for weeks while awaiting their opportunity. They said that they simply seized him on a bus on Monday night as he travelled between safe houses. Other Serbian government sources said that Dr Karadzic had been under surveillance for several weeks after a tip-off from a foreign intelligence service.
Rasim Ljajic, the minister in charge of co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, said: “He was very convincing in hiding his identity. He was performing alternative medicine, making money that way.”
Dr Karadzic’s undercover life was in an area of the city known for its nationalist sentiment, and he was protected by a group of sympathisers.
There was no suggestion yesterday that anyone would receive a share of the $5 million put up by the United States for his capture. The Serb authorities denied the involvement of foreign security services.
The official version of events was immediately challenged by Dr Karadzic’s lawyer, who insisted that his client had indeed been seized on a bus but that the seizure had taken place on Friday morning. He was led off by several plainclothes policemen, hooded, and taken to a small room where he was held for three days, Svetozar Vujacic claimed. “He was blindfolded and that is absolutely against the law,” he said.
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Have your say
Can someone tell me why only Serbs are being blamed it takes to to tango. Why did muslims destroyed all the villages around srebrenica that serbs lived in, no one is talkin about that. Thats the reason serbs attacked srebrenica. Also 8 000 people havent been killed thats a lie check it out.
Mark, London, UK
Well Margo dublini think u need to have more information about Serbian goverments what did , so it is only serbs who sarted wars in ax yougoslavia not any other country, also Carla del ponte book ,has been investigations but nothing was found, so before you make any comment have some more inform p
Doni, London, Uk
To Shkurte, PRISHTINA ALBANIAN people already have one country - it is called Albania amusingly enough. What next? Partition of Macedonia, Greece, Germany and Switzerland to please more albanians?
John, London, UK
Yet again we see the double standards applied through the Hague tribunal, but what can we do? That institution is very subjective, unjustifiably expensive and long-outdated. It needs to be closed down, and the sooner, the better!
Simon Bull, LA, USA
BM Cook - he was hiding, in disguise. If he wanted to expiate his sins he would give himself up. Don't make me laugh
banchang, dublin,
BM Cook, so he was a doctor for a few years, so was harold shipman, so was mengala, does that mean the evil they commited should be to some extent negated? Nick Pisa- because its not about religion, in bosnia they where the victims, in 9/11 they were the perpetrators and financiers of the atrosity
will, grimsby, uk
I suggest that he serves some prison time, as a guest of the Americans in Guantanamo Bay prison camp...
Sam, Dallas, USA
Brave Europian community! You create moslim enclave in the mids of Europe and reliable basement for terrorism. Mr. Karadzic tryid to protect you but you handed him to hangmen from Hagua tribunal. We will only wait until your friends moslims settle account with you.
Boris, Surgut, Russia
What about arresting the muslims who massacred the Christians during this conflict?
Ellie, London, UK
If he had murdered Christians, he would still be a free man.
Steve, Leeds, UK
No doubt he'll do a Pinochet or Guiness trial jobby and say he's got dementia and is unfit for trial.
Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
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