Vlaco: Custody Extension Motion

Prosecutor Vesna Ilic requested the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to extend custody for suspect Vlaco for three months in order for the Prosecution to complete the investigation.

Explaining the custody extension motion, the Prosecutor said that, by being at liberty, the suspect might influence witnesses or accomplices and seek to flee.

“The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has examined a certain number of witnesses. However, we need to examine some other witnesses too. We have not gathered all pieces of material evidence either. We propose to the Court to extend custody for the suspect for three months, by which date the Prosecution will have completed the investigation,” Prosecutor Ilic said.

The Defence said that the State Prosecution’s allegations were “general and unfounded”, proposing to the Court to order prohibiting measures instead of custody for suspect Vlaco.

Vlaco, former Manager of detention camps in “Planjina kuca” in Svrake, “Nakina garaza”, “Kod Sonje” and “Bunker”, is suspected of having planned, ordered and participated in the persecution of the Bosniak and Croat population from Vogosca and the neighbouring municipalities in the period from May to November 1992.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspects Vlaco of having participated in the unlawful detention, physical abuse, murder, sexual abuse and rape of civilians from the broader area of Vogosca municipality, while also using them as human shields and ordering mass deportations.

Vlaco was arrested in Montenegro in August last year on the basis of an international warrant issued at the request by the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina in mid-January this year. He has been held in custody since.
S.U.