Tripkovic: Prosecution Files Custody Motion

State Prosecutor Behaija Krnjic said it was necessary to order Novica Tripkovic into custody because the suspect might flee to Montenegro or influence witnesses and accomplices, adding the public order and peace might be disturbed if he remained at liberty.

The Defence objected to the Prosecution’s motion, saying that “not even the basic conditions for ordering Tripkovic into custody” existed.

The Court will render its decision at a later stage.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspects Novica Tripkovic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, of having raped and physically abused a Bosniak female and killing another person in the Foca area between April and June 1992.

Tripkovic was arrested in Miljevina, Foca municipality, on December 6.

Explaining the custody order motion, the Prosecutor said that the suspect had not lived at the address in Miljevina reported as his place of residence for a long time, but rather he had been hiding in Montenegro and he intended to escape to Montenegro for good.

“SIPA members have been searching for the suspect for months. He evidently no longer lives at the address reported as his place of residence, but he lives iillegally in Montenegro. His arrest, which took place two days ago, happened accidentally,” Krnjic said.

He added that it was necessary to order Tripkovic into custody also because he might seek to influence witnesses.

“So far only one injured party has asked for protection measures. The person is in an extremely bad mental state. Any disturbance or pressure on this witness would bring the further course of this proceeding into question,” the Prosecutor said.

Slavica Cvoro, Defence attorney for the suspect, said that no preconditions for custody existed, adding that Tripkovic was wrongly suspected and he did not hide, but rather worked in Montenegro.

“The suspect did not even know that an investigation against him had been opened, so he could not flee anywhere. He works for a private company in Montenegro. He comes to Miljevina once a month to pay his bills,” Cvoro said.

Cvoro added that the Prosecution’s allegation that he might influence other witnesses was “unrealistic” because the suspect lives in the Foca area while all Prosecution witnesses have permanent places of residence in Sarajevo.