Custody Extension for Predrag Milisavljevic Requested

State Prosecutor Dzevad Muratbegovic filed the custody extension motion for Milisavljevic due to a danger that he might flee and a possibility that he might influence his accomplices while at liberty.

“The suspect has citizenship of Serbia too. Prior to his arrest he wanted to go to Russia in order to work there,” said Muratbegovic.

Muratbegovic mentioned that he requested ten-day extension of custody, explaining that the Prosecution had filed an indictment against Milisavljevic, Milos Pantelic and Ljubomira Tasic, charging them with crimes in the Visegrad area, with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for confirmation on September 17.

The Defence objected to the custody extension motion, saying that the witnesses’ statements were not authentic and that one could not conclude, on the basis of those statements, that the suspect committed the crimes charged upon him.

Borislav Jamina, Defence attorney of Milisavljevic, said that his client did not intend to flee and that he did not intend to interfere with the proceedings by contacting the other suspects.

Milisavljevic said that he had crossed the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina 30 times over the course of six months, adding that he did not have an intention to flee.

“I do not have an intention to flee. I am not scared by the possible sentence. I want to find out the truth, just like you,” Milisavljevic said, addressing the Trial Chamber.

The State Court will render its decision concerning the State Prosecution’s motion at a later stage.

The unconfirmed State Prosecution’s indictment alleges that Milisavljevic and Pantelic, former members of reserve forces with the Public Safety Station in Visegrad, and Tasic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, committed the persecution of the Bosniak population in Visegrad municipality from April to the end of June 1992.

Milisavljevic has been held in custody since June this year.