Less Strict Prohibiting Measures Requested

Prosecutor Cazim Hasanspahic explained that the facts and circumstances had not changed in comparison to the ones from June 13, when the measures were originally ordered, and that additional reasons for extension of those measures existed.

“Confirmation of indictment represents an additional motive for the indictees to violate the prohibiting measures. They committed a crime and had five or six accomplices against whom an investigation is still ongoing,” Hasanspahic said. 

He mentioned that protected witness S-4 said, while being examined, that he met indictee Drago Koncar in June and that they discussed the facts related to this case for 15 minutes.

“I did not request custody, because, at that moment, the investigation was getting close to an end. However, the prohibiting measures have not been respected,” The Prosecutor said.  

Savan Zec, Defence attorney of indictee Koncar, said that the meeting between the indictee and the witness happened a month-and-a-half ago prior to the filing of the indictment and that the mentioned person did not know that he would become a State Prosecution witness. Also, he requested the Court to order less strict prohibiting measures.

“He has not been able to go to work in Prijedor for two months. In case the measure remains in effect, he will be fired because of that,” Defence attorney Savan Zec said.

The Defence of indictee Mitar Vlasenko requested that the indictee be banned from leaving his place of residence, instead of being banned from leaving his house.

“My client has agricultural land, which is located in the vicinity of his house. The land is his source of income,” Defence attorney Stanislav Branko said.

The Defence of indictee Rade Vlasenko requested the Court to harmonise the prohibiting measures with the indictee’s health condition and enable him to visit a doctor in Prijedor, as well as the Clinical Centre in Banja Luka.

“He is severely ill. He has to visit doctors all the time. We are asking the Court to allow him to do it provided that he informs police officers in advance,” said Defence attorney Zumreta Agagic Bavcic.

The Prosecution did not object to the proposal to order less strict prohibiting measures.

The indictees, who are former members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, are charged with having committed crimes against humanity.

They are charged with having participated in the persecution of the Bosniak and Croat population from the Prijedor area within a widespread and systematic attack by VRS, police forces and paramilitary formations from May to July 1992.  

Men were unlawfully detained in Trnopolje, Omarska and Keraterm detention camps, while women, children and the elderly were forcedly deported from the Prijedor area.

The Court will render a decision concerning the proposals by the two parties at a later stage.