Beginning of Trial of Slavko Bilbija Postponed
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Indictee Bilbija’s Defence attorney Jovo Pilipovic informed the Trial Chamber that he had filed an objection with the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH, regarding the territorial and actual jurisdiction of the Cantonal Court in Bihac and requested that the case be referred to another court.
“I propose that this case be referred to another court, the one in Livno being the closest one, because a fair and objective trial cannot be ensured for my client before this court. He is a Serb of Orthodox religion, while the members of the Trial Chamber, Prosecutor and injured parties are Bosniaks. I personally do not mind, but I receive orders from my client,” attorney Pilipovic said.
The Bihac Cantonal Prosecution charges Slavko Bilbija, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, who allegedly acted in collaboration with another person, with having killed Becir and Ismet Besirevic in Bjeline village, Donji Lipnik, Sanski Most municipality on July 10, 1992 and dumped their bodies into a pit afterwards.
Bilbija was arrested in Prijedor on January 17. He has been held in custody in Bihac since.
The beginning of the trial has been postponed until the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH has decided regarding the objection filed by Bilbija’s Defence attorney.
