Zoran Maric in custody

Following the extradition of Zoran Maric from Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the State Court ordered him into custody.

The State Prosecution has filed a motion asking the Court to order him into custody “due to apossibility that he might seek to flee or hide from the prosecutionbodies”.tate

Fadil Abaz, Defence attorney of the suspect, objected to the Prosecution’s motion, saying that Maric “is an innocent man”.

Maric, who was extradited by Serbia on July 6, is suspected of having participated, in September 1992, in the shooting of 29 Bosniak civilians from Ljoljici and Cerkazovici villages, in Jajce Municipality. On that occasion 23 people, including four minors, were killed. 

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina rendered a second-instance verdict, sentencing Mirko (son of Spiro) Pekez to 14, Mirko (son of Mile) Pekez to 29 and Milorad Savic to 21 years’ imprisonment for the same crime.

Explaining its motion, the Prosecution said that “there exists extraordinarily compelling evidence” proving that Maric committed the crime of which he is accused. The Prosecution also said that Maric has “evaded State Court summonses” since 2002.

“The reasons mentioned by the Prosecution do not refer to any concrete actions. The truth is that my client lives in Serbia, but only because his wife was born there. He did not run away or hide,” Abaz said.

After having presented the custody order motion, Prosecutor Mirko Lecic asked for the suspect to be transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office in order to give a statement. The Court approved this request.