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The Court announced that the indictment, accompanied by voluminous evidence material, was submitted to it for confirmation as late as on December 12 and that it was also accompanied by a custody extension motion for the suspects.
“This meant that the Court was given two days to schedule and hold a custody extension hearing, render and write a decision for all 15 people, study the indictment, review all pieces of material evidence and render a decision regarding its possible confirmation,” the Court of BiH said in its announcement.
It further alleges that the Court was deprived of the legal timeframe for quality studying of the indictment and rendering a decision concerning its confirmation. The Court reminded that deadline for the confirmation of indictments was eight days or even 15 in complex cases.
“Therefore, this indictment has been returned to the Prosecution to the investigation phase, because the Court of BiH insists on the professional treatment of all parties, particularly in complex and sensitive cases. It will not render decisions in the case of late submission of indictments against persons whose custody measures are due to expire soon, but it insists on respecting the legally-set deadlines, which provide enough time for quality work,” the announcement says.
On December 15 the Prosecution of BiH requested custody for Dusan Milunic, Radomir Stojnic, Radovan Cetic, Ilija Zoric, Zoran Stojnic, Zeljko Grbic, Zoran Milunic, Bosko Grujicic, Rade and Uros Grujcic, Rajko Grbic, Zdravko Antonic and Rajko Gnjatovic, who were arrested last month.
They are suspected, along with Ljubisa Cetic and Dusko Zoric, of having participated in an attack on Zecovi village in 1992, when more than 150 people were killed. Besides that, they are suspected of the murder of 29 women and children in Gradina village. After that the bodies of the killed were then removed to a mass grave, which has still not been found.
The Prosecution requested custody due to a danger that they might influence witnesses and accomplices and, in the case of Antonic, over a danger that he might flee.
The Defence objected to the motion, saying that the Prosecution filed the indictment on December 12 and that the Court had still not confirmed it and adding that it was not possible to order or extend custody in the period from filing to confirming an indictment.
The Prosecution did not request custody for Cetic and Zoric, because they are in prison for having committed other crimes.
- Case: Milunic et al.
- City: Prijedor
- Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Person: Antonic Zdravko
- Person: Cetic Ljubisa
- Person: Cetic Radovan
- Person: Gnjatovic Rajko
- Person: Grbic Rajko
- Person: Grbic Zeljko
- Person: Grujcic Bosko
- Person: Grujcic Rade
- Person: Grujcic Uros
- Person: Milunic Dusan
- Person: Milunic Zoran
- Person: Stojnic Zoran
- Person: Zoric Dusko
- Person: Zoric Ilija
