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The State Court rejected the custody release motion filed by the Defence of Ante Kovac, who is charged with crimes committed in Vitez.
As explained by Judge Saban Maksumic, the Chamber decided to reject the proposal because “the estimated value of the offered property was not supported by relevant evidence”.
“The objectivity of the documents is questionable, because the value of the apartment and business premises are in contradiction,” Maksumic said.
The Defence offered property, worth about KM 700,000, as a guarantee that the indictee would appear before the Court if released on bail. This property is owned by the indictee’s son and daughter.
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Ante Kovac, as commander of the Military Police Squad with the Vitez Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, with having ordered and approved the detention of Bosniak civilians in the premises of Radnicki University, and the cinema hall and public accounting services in Vitez, as well as of having raped two women.
The rest of the hearing, at which a protected witness testified, was held behind closed doors.
“This witness has been granted protection measures, including exclusion of the public, in order to protect his personal interest,” Trial Chamber Chairman Saban Maksumic said, ordering the public to leave the courtroom.
The trial is due to continue on February 12.
