Dzeko: Information about the Crime in Donja Jablanica
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The State Prosecution requested from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to extend the custody of Dzeko for three months, emphasising that they have the information that the suspect also committed a war crime in Donja Jablanica.
Dzeko said that he has nothing to add to what has been said by his Defence on Monday, March 19, at a previous hearing when the Defence requested additional time to allow the suspect to get further acquainted with the evidence that the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has proposed with its motion for custody.
At the previous hearing, the Prosecution requested the extension of custody for three months for the suspect because of the possibility of escape and impact to witnesses, and insisted that it plans to complete the investigation during that period.
The Defense has proposed to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to revoke custody for Dzeko and order prohibiting measures, adding that the suspect “would agree to any measure of prohibition”.
Dzeko, former member of the “Zulfikar” Special Purposes Detachment with the High Command of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ABiH), is suspected of taking part in the attack on the village of Trusina in the municipality of Konjic, when 18 civilians and four soldiers of the Croatian Defence Council were killed in April 1993.
Dzeko was arrested in the United States of America in April 2011, where he has been held in custody. He was extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina in December last year.
Prosecutor Vesna Budimir pointed out that while carrying out an investigation into the events in Trusina, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina obtained information that the suspect Dzeko “also committed other acts of war crimes in the area of Donja Jablanica”.
“Dzeko was not extradited because of the events in Donja Jablanica, so the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina demanded the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina to submit the consent regarding the further prosecution of Edin Dzeko to the competent authority in the United States of America”, said Prosecutor Budimir.
The Defence said that the person who was extradited may only be prosecuted for the offence for which he is extradited, and if the Prosecution has the knowledge that the suspect committed another offence, that should not have anything to do with this proposal for custody.
The Court will bring its decision at a later stage.
