Koricanske stijene: Extension of custody requested

Due to a danger that they might seek to influence witnesses or accomplices and violate the safety of citizens or property, the State Prosecution filed a custody extension motion, calling upon the Court to order a two-month custody extension in the case of the three suspects, charged with committing crimes at Koricanske stijene in August 1992.

The Defence teams said the Prosecution’s motion contained “generalized statements”, and asked the Court to release the suspect and “impose certain prohibiting measures”.

The Trial Chamber will render its decision at a later stage.

The Prosecution alleges that Gordan Djuric, Milorad Radakovic and Ljubisa Cetic, former members of the Emergency Police Squad from Prijedor, participated in guarding the convoys of buses and trucks, in which there were more than 1,000 civilians, and shooting about 200 men at Koricanske stijene on Mount Vlasic in late August 1992.

The three men were arrested on October 14, 2008. They have been held in custody since then. Also on October 14 the State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA, arrested Milorad Skrbic, who was released, while certain prohibiting measures were ordered against him.

Djuric’s Defence argued that the Prosecution’s custody extension motion is “not based on evidence”, adding that it contains “abstract unfounded judgments”.

“The Prosecution has not presented any evidence in order to prove that my client might seek to influence witnesses or that he participated in this crime. He is a quiet and scrupulous man, dedicated to his family,” Djuric Defence attorney Dragan Medjovic said.

Djuric also addressed the Trial Chamber, saying that he is a man of “work and family”, adding that he could not harm anybody if at liberty.

Radakovic’s attorney Slavica Cvoro spoke about “the unacceptable arguments” provided by the Prosecution in its custody extension motion.

“The Prosecution has given some generalized statements, saying that, if released, he might seek to influence witnesses and the safety of citizens. My client suffers from severe health problems. He should undergo a surgery,” Cvoro said.

Slobodan Peric, Cetic’s attorney, said that the Prosecution had not provided any evidence in support of its custody order motion, and he called on the Court to released his client subject to prohibiting measures.

As per a warrant issued by the Prosecution, Damir Ivankovic, Dusan Jankovic, Zeljko Stojnic and Zoran Babic were arrested, in late May 2008, on suspicion that they participated in the crimes committed at Koricanske stijene. Following the arrest, Ivankovic and Babic were released, while the two others remained in custody.