Custody and Prohibiting Measures Proposed

The State Prosecution requested the Court to order prohibiting measures against Mile Kokot and Ranko Mrdja, who too are suspected of crimes in Sanski Most. The Defence did not object to this request, but it asked the Court to adjust the measures to their professional obligations.

The Prosecution of BiH requested custody for Goran and Milorad Mrdja due to a possibility that they might flee, disturb the public order and influence witnesses or accomplices.

It was said that suspect Goran Mrdja dd not possess identification documents and that, although he was the owner of a catering facility, he was not registered. The Prosecution of BiH therefore considers that it would be impossible to control whether Goran Mrdja has crossed the border or not.

Goran, Milorad and Ranko Mrdja, as well as Mile Kokot, former members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, are suspected of having participated in murders, rape and other inhumane acts against Bosniak victims in the Sanski Most area and its surroundings.

The Prosecution said that all witnesses expressed a big fear and that it considered it “very important to make sure that there is no communication between Goran and Milorad Mrdja”, because they were sentenced for a crime committed in the similar way back in 1993.

According to the Prosecution, all of the examined witnesses consider that Goran Mrdja persistently abused the population and that he could disturb the public order should he be released to liberty.

As far as suspects Mile Kokot and Ranko Mrdja are concerned, the Prosecution considers that prohibiting measures are sufficient to prevent them from leaving BiH and communicating with witnesses in order to avoid interference with the investigation.

The Defence of Goran and Milorad Mrdja objected to the custody motion, proposing prohibiting measures, including a ban on leaving their places of residence and meeting the witnesses, instead.

“The Prosecution has not documented its grounded suspicion… My client is a family man. He and his wife run a family business. He does not have any motives to flee,” said Defence attorney Damir Katica, who represents Goran Mrdja.

He said that his client did not have a passport and that he had not even obtained new personal identification documents as yet.

According to Ranko Dakic, Defence attorney of Milorad Mrdja, the Prosecution’s reasons for custody were generalised.

“He only works in Croatia and stays at his relatives temporarily. However, he only possesses the citizenship of BiH. All witnesses are in Sanski Most, in the Federation of BiH. He no longer goes there. He lives in Prijedor,” Dakic said.

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