U.S. Indicts Bobby Fischer Over $5-Million Match in Yugoslavia

Chess master Bobby Fischer was indicted Tuesday for playing a $5-million Yugoslav match in defiance of a U.S. presidential ban against commercial dealings with the war-torn country.

The indictment cited Fischer’s participation in a “world championship chess match” with Boris Spassky, which ran Sept. 2 to Nov. 5 and brought Fischer $3.35 million in winnings plus 10% royalties on all related revenues.

Before the match began, Fischer, 49, was warned in a letter from the U.S. Treasury Department that his participation could result in his prosecution. At a Sept. 1 press conference, Fischer replied to the warning by producing a copy of the letter and spitting on it.

Fischer is thought to be still in Belgrade. U.S. Atty. Jay B. Stephens said it is unclear whether violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, under which President Bush issued his June 5 ban against commercial dealings with Yugoslavia, is an offense for which Fischer can be extradited.

But Stephens said that the question of extradition is being explored and that Fischer could be detained under the arrest warrant if he left that embattled nation. Fischer is “essentially being checkmated in Yugoslavia,” he said. Stephens added that the United States does not plan to take any “extraordinary action,” such as taking steps to have him kidnaped as a fugitive.

If convicted, Fischer would face maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, in addition to forfeiture of his winnings and related revenues. There is an “ongoing investigation to identify (Fischer’s) resources,” the prosecutor said.

“The investigation of financial transactions related to this alleged offense is continuing,” Stephens said, noting that money-laundering charges also are possible.

Fischer has long been known as the enfant terrible of chess. He won the world title from Spassky in 1972, then went into 20 years of self-imposed exile. He surfaced rarely and when he did, he expressed contempt for the world’s leading players and chess organizations. At the Sept. 1 press conference, he referred to the game’s premier players as “the lowest dogs around” and made disparaging remarks about Russia and world Jewry.

Fischer’s attorneys could not be reached for comment. The Associated Press reached his bodyguard, Goran Simic, in a Belgrade hotel where Fischer was staying, and he said Fischer “doesn’t want to make any comment,” referring questions to his lawyers.