Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic has expressed distress over the arrest of her father, Damir in Serbia, after he allegedly threatened to kill Australia's ambassador to Serbia.
Damir Dokic faces three years in prison for threatening to fire a rocket at the Australian ambassador to Belgrade and for illegally possessing explosive devices.
Damir Dokic allegedly flew into a violent rage in reaction to an article in this week's magazine Sport and Style which claimed he physically abused his daughter, Jelena.
The two illegal "bombs" found in a drawer in his home are believed to be hand grenades. He had permits for seven rifles in his home but is alleged to have illegally been in possession of ammunition. Dokic cast a dejected figure when he was taken out of the back of a prison van in the Serbian town of Ruma, reports The Herald Sun.
An investigative judge has ordered that Damir Dokic be held in custody for up to 30 days pending an investigation.
Dokic's lawyer Bosiljka Djukic plans to go to the Supreme Court to appeal against the decision in a bid to have him freed from the Sremska Mitrovica prison where he is awaiting his fate.
His arrest has upset 26-year-old daughter Jelena who has been estranged from her father for seven years.
"Jelena is very distressed and saddened by her father's arrest," her IMG agent Lawrence Frankopan said in a brief statement released in London on Thursday.
"She understands very well the severity of the situation. Obviously, she cannot, in any way, be held responsible for her father's actions. Jelena remains 100 per cent focused on her tennis in preparation for the upcoming French Open. We will have no further comment on this unfortunate situation," Frankopan added.
Dokic's arrest has had little impact on his reputation in his home village of Vrdnik, where he is worshiped for bringing in a flood of cash.
