Custody Extension Motion for Coloman Filed

Explaining his custody extension motion, Prosecutor Mirza Hukeljic said that there was a fear that, while at liberty, the indictee might seek to flee or influence witnesses and accomplices. Also, he said that Coloman had previously been sentenced for other crimes.
 
The Defence objected to this proposal, calling on the Court to order prohibiting measures against the indictee.
 
“My client has never been hiding. He has a properly reported address. He has never refused to accept court summons. He only possesses the citizenship of BiH,” Defence attorney Senad Dupovac said, adding that Coloman had been previously sentenced, but he had never been hiding.
 
According to the charges, Coloman, former member of the Reconnaissance Squad of the Seventh Muslim Brigade with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was allegedly armed that day, came in front of the Youth Centre in Poculice village, where Croat civilians were detained, on April 24, 1993.
 
When the facility guard refused to unlock the door and let the indictee in, he allegedly opened a burst of fire from an automatic gun through the closed door. Three Croats were killed and nine wounded on that occasion.
 
Prosecutor Hukeljic said that Coloman committed this crime in collaboration with another person, whose identity was still not known to the Prosecution and that, while at liberty, the indictee might attempt to avoid this trial for his and his accomplice’s sake.
 
Dupovac responded by saying that the Prosecution has not proved that the indictee tried to influence witnesses or accomplices.
 
The Defence reminded the Court that the indictee was a father of two minor children and he financially provided for them, adding that his family would lose the basic resources for living if he stayed in custody.
 
The indictee addressed the Court, saying that he did not have an intention to run away from his children and that his wife was not able to take care of the kids.
 
“We have nobody else to help us. I am asking you, for the sake of my children, to allow me to come to court from home,” Coloman said.
 
Coloman was arrested on June 25. After that the Court of BiH ordered him into one-month custody due to a possibility that he might flee and influence witnesses and accomplices.
 
The Court of BiH will render a decision concerning the custody extension motion at a later stage.