Austria on Thursday extradited a former Croatian general to his homeland for trial on embezzlement charges, according to news reports.

Vladimir Zagorec, 44, a weapons buyer for Croatian forces during the Balkan nation's 1991-95 war of independence from Yugoslavia, was handed over to Croatia after the Austrian constitutional court threw out his appeal against extradition, Austria's APA news agency said.

Considered one of Croatia's richest men, Zagorec was arrested in Vienna on September 26 after authorities deemed him a flight risk.

He was flown to Zagreb Thursday, where he was taken under tight security from the capital's airport to Remetinec prison, Croatian news reports said.

Croatian prosecutors allege that Zagorec, a former deputy defence minister, defrauded the government of diamonds worth 5 million dollars meant for arms purchases. He is also charged with abuse of power.

The now-retired general was a close associate of the late Croatian president Franjo Tudjman, who led the newly independent country in its war with better-armed Yugoslav and Serb forces.

Since his arrest, Zagorec has expressed fear for his own safety. A jailed Croatian underworld boss, Hrvoje Petrac, earlier this year publicly promised him a "welcome," hinting at rape and other abuse.

However, in Zagreb, President Stjepan Mesic brushed aside threats to Zagorec. He also dismissed allegations that Zagorec would receive a lop-sided trial in Croatia.

"His security is not in question and he will be most secure here," Mesic told reporters. "The fairness of his trial is also not in question ... it will be held under a large magnifying glass."

Zagorec has lived in Austria since 2000. He was arrested in Vienna in 2007 after Croatia started legal proceedings against him, before being released on bail.