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The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has approved Serbia’s request for the extradition of Croatian citizen Tihomir Purda, whom the Serbian judicial authorities suspect of war crimes – Purda’s Defence attorney Josip Muselimovic confirmed to BIRN – Justice Report.
He announced that he would file an appeal with the Appellate Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding he “believes that the Chamber will render an entirely different decision in response to his appeal”.
“The first instance decision is absolutely unlawful. It is contradictory to the Law on International Legal Aid provisions and particularly the European Convention on Human Rights,” Muselimovic said.
The Serbian War Crimes Prosecutior is conducting an investigation on suspicion that Purda committed war crimes against the wounded and sick in Borovo naselje, Croatia in November 1991. Purda is suspected of having shot at wounded people and killed at least two soldiers. The only survivor – Sergeant Boban Gacic died in a hospital in Vukovar later.
Purda was arrested at the border crossing in Orasje on January 5, 2011, on an international warrant issued by Serbia. He has been held in the Extradition Detention Unit since then.
At the beginning of February 2011, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina extended custody for Purda, which “may last up to six months from his deprivation of liberty”.
The Republic of Croatia has not requested his extradition, because no investigation is being conducted against Purda there.
M.T.
