Koricanske stijene: Witnesses Influence Attempt

The State Prosecution claims that the two suspects, considered to have committed crimes at Koricanske stijene, attempted to influence witnesses, who have been granted certain protection measures, adding that it requested a three-month extension of custody due to that.

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

Dusan Jankovic and Zeljko Stojnic were arrested on May 27 and 29, 2008, under a suspicion that they committed crimes against humanity at Koricanske stijene on mount Vlasic, where more than 200 Croatian and Bosniak male civilians from Prijedor and Banja Luka were executed.

Prosecutor Vesna Ilic claims that many witnesses, for whom the Court has granted certain protection measures, have complained about having been “visited by the suspects and their family members”.

“The witnesses are still afraid for their security, considering the fact that they live in Prijedor municipality. Releasing the suspects would disturb and have a negative impact on the public order and peace. By keeping the suspects under custody, we would prevent the victims from suffering traumas again,” Prosecutor Vesna Ilic said.

Dusan Jankovic said that he was “surprised and shocked” by the reasons cited by the Prosecution, adding that he did not have any problems with witnesses and “if the Prosecution has problems, it must have personally created them”.

“I do not know who the protected witnesses are. Influencing witnesses may be just a game and set up by the Prosecution and investigative organs. Who can influence witnesses? Can it be me, since I am in custody? Or can it be the Prosecution, which has been conducting an investigation for 16 years?” Jankovic said. His Defence attorney Ranko Dakic mentioned that “the special condition for custody” has not been proved, adding that the Prosecution’s motion did not contain any “new facts”.

“Generalised reasons were mentioned earlier. They are being mentioned now as well in a form of presumptions, while no arguments are provided. Two suspects in this case are at liberty, which is absurd,” Dakic said.

Damir Ivankovic and Zoran Babic were arrested at the same time as Jankovic and Stojnic, but they were soon released.

Zlatko Knezevic, Defence attorney of Zeljko Stojnic, objected the custody extension motion, claiming that “liberty is a rule while detention is exception”.

“This is the fifth time we are having a discussion on custody. The Prosecution offers the same story each time. At this moment they have run out of all justifications,” Knezevic considers. Stojnic agreed with him, claiming that “this really makes no sense any more”.