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June 12, 2009 12:00am
CLAIMS that Australia abandoned Damir Dokic were rejected by the Department of Foreign Affairs as his trial resumed in Serbia.
Mr Dokic's lawyer, Bosiljka Djukic, said the Australian Government was refusing to help the father of tennis star Jelena Dokic.
Despite famously turning his back on Australia, Mr Dokic, 50, retained his citizenship and has pleaded for Australian assistance.
His lawyer called on foreign affairs officials to contact the Serbian foreign ministry "to ensure Mr Dokic received a fair trial".
Mr Dokic is accused of threatening to kill Australia's ambassador to Serbia, Clare Birgin, and of possessing illegal hand grenades and bullets. The trial is being held behind closed doors after a judge made the extraordinary decision to bar public access because of fears of "harming relations" between Serbia and Australia.
A spokesman for the foreign affairs department said yesterday that Mr Dokic was being treated "no differently than any other Australian citizen".
"Mr Dokic's lawyer has written to the Embassy, requesting Australian Government intervention in freeing Mr Dokic from detention," the spokesman said.
"Mr Dokic is subject to Serbian legal processes. It is not within our consular role to intervene in local judicial proceedings. This has been explained clearly to Mr Dokic's next of kin and lawyer.
"His next of kin has confirmed that Mr Dokic does not require consular assistance at this stage."
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith had pledged that Mr Dokic would be extended consular assistance.
Mr Dokic's doctor this week visited him at Sremska Mitrovica prison, where he has been held since his arrest last month.
A medical report was expected to be handed to the judge presiding over his case last night, with Mr Dokic reporting new heart-related problems.
Mr Dokic faces a maximum of eight years in prison.
His alleged threats followed an interview in which Jelena indicated she had been physically abused by her father.
His lawyer firmly denied a report in Serbian newspaper Glas Javnosti that Jelena had visited her father in prison.
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