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Prosecutor Olivera Djuric said that there was a danger that Goran Mrdja could influence witnesses. As she said, he did not have valid personal identification documents or place of residence. Also, he was using other people’s cars, although he did not have a driver’s licence.
“During the search he had a personal identification card that had his picture on it, but the name was different, which means that he is using other people’s documents. Also, many witnesses have expressed certain fear of the first indictee,” Djuric said.
As far as indictee Milorad Mrdja is concerned, she said that he worked and lived in Croatia, where he earned certain income, which meant that he had a motive to go back to that country and be unavailable to prosecution bodies.
Goran and Milorad Mrdja are charged, along with Milorad Kokot and Ranko Mrdja, former members of the Sixth Sanska Infantry Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, are charged with having participated in crimes against Bosniak victims, including murders, rape, beating, robbing and other types of mental and physical abuse, in the broader area of Sanski Most from the summer of 1992 to the autumn of 1994.
Dusko Tomic, Defence attorney of indictee Goran Mrdja, said that there were no reasons for extending the custody measure, because two indictees in this case were defending themselves while at liberty.
“My client knew that he would be arrested, but he did not flee, so the Prosecutor’s allegation that some witnesses are afraid of my client does not stand up. None of the witnesses has requested protection measures,” Tomic explained.
Ranko Dakic, Defence attorney of Milorad Mrdja, said that his client did not have Croatian citizenship and that there was no possibility for him to flee.
“The Prosecution has not mentioned that any witnesses expressed fear from my client. Also, I would like to say that all of the witnesses have been examined,” Dakic said.
The attorney proposed that the Court ordered prohibiting measures, including a ban on leaving Prijedor municipality, a ban on meeting the witnesses and indictees, an obligation to report to Prijedor police and the confiscation of personal identification documents.
The Court will render a decision concerning the custody extension motion at a later stage.
