Branko Vlaco: One-Month Custody

Prosecutor Munib Haliliovic said that the investigation determined that the indictee is not at his address of address in Bijeljina.

“Later we got the fact that he does not reside at that address, but in Belgrade, and that he knows that the proceedings are being conducted against him”, said Prosecutor Halilovic, adding that “this indicates that the address of residence was falsely reported, while he is hiding in another country”.

Also, by remaining at liberty, as Halilovic said, the indictee could influence the witnesses, and from description of the acts for which he is charged, it is a matter of a large number of detainees from detention camps in Vogosca whose. manager was Vlaco, and which are deprived of life.

In his capacity as Manager of the “Planjina kuca” detention camp in Svrake, “Nakina garaza”, “Kod Sonje” and “Bunker” detention camps, Vlaco, a wartime member of local Serb forces from Vogosca, is suspected of having planned, ordered and participated in the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats in Vogosca and neighbouring municipalities in the period from May to November 1992.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspects him of having participated in the unlawful detention, physical abuse, murder, sexual abuse and rape, using people as human shields and the mass deportations of civilians in the wider area of Vogosca and neighbouring municipalities.

Answering the question of Enida Hadziomerovic, a judge from the previous hearing, if there is some alternative measure of protection, which the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina would eventually take into account instead of custody, prosecutor Halilovic was strict.

“The fact that the indictee was extradited by an international warrant indicates that it is very difficult to find an alternative measure, which would have prevented him to escape” said the Prosecutor.

Rade Golic, defence attorney of the indictee, said that he considers the suspicion of the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina as lump.

“The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have enough evidence for establishing the reasonable suspicion, and the fact that he was not for a while in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not enough evidence to order him custody”, said Golic.

Indictee Vlaco said that he was not hiding from anybody, and that he sold the house in Bijeljina.

“I inherited that house from my father and when sold it, I moved with my wife and two sons to Belgrade, I was not hiding from anyone,” said Vlaco.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered one-month custody to Vlaco, which could last until February 16.