BELGRADE, Serbia(AP) Tennis player Jelena Dokic's father was charged with threatening the Australian ambassador in Belgrade. Police found rifles and hand grenades during the search of his house.
Damir Dokic could face up to eight years in prison for ``endangering security'' of the ambassador and unlawful possession of weapons, his lawyer, Bosiljka Djukic, told The Associated Press on Friday.
Dokic lives in northern Serbia and was arrested after he reportedly said he would blow up Ambassador Clair Birgin's car if she did not stop negative articles about him from being published in Australia. Jelena Dokic had given interviews to Australian media, saying her father had beaten her.
Dokic has told Serbian media he would fire a rocket launcher at Birgin's car but later said such statements were made in anger. He also has admitted having beaten his daughter.
Djukic contends authorities should leave it to Birgin to decide whether to press charges against Dokic. There was no comment from the ambassador. Earlier, the Australian embassy in Belgrade said it was taking seriously any threats against Australia's diplomats.
Jelena Dokic, born in the former Yugoslavia, migrated to Australia with her family as a child and represented Australia at the 2000 Olympics. She renounced her Australian ties in 2001 to move back to Serbia, then decided to begin competing for Australia again in 2006.
She is ranked No. 72 and entered in the French Open, which begins Sunday. During a tournament in Warsaw this week the 26-year-old player wouldn't take questions about her father.