Indictee Receives Summons, but Fails to Appear
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“The indictee was properly invited. We have a letter from the Justice Ministry of the Republic of Croatia, saying that the summons was handed over to the indictee on July 10, 2013 and that the indictee signed a receipt,” preliminary hearing judge Mladen Ruzojcic said.
He said that a new hearing would be scheduled at a later stage, “after the indictee’s presence has been secured.”
District Prosecutor Zeljka Radovic requested the Court to order the indictee into custody and issue an international warrant, because, according to data obtained during the investigation, Jozo Brico’s place of residence is not at his pre-war address in Derventa.
“Considering the fact that he received the summons in good order, it is obvious that he will not respond to it. Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia have not signed an agreement on extradition of their citizens,” Radovic said.
Branko Ristic, ex-officio Defence attorney of the indictee, said that the Prosecution’s request was premature, because this was the first summon handed over to the indictee and the reasons for his absence were not known.
The Court will render a decision concerning the Prosecution’s motion at a later stage.
Jozo Brico, former member of the 103rd Derventa Brigade of HVO, guard and detention camp Manager, is charged with having beaten civilians, who were unlawfully detained in the JNA Centre, Rabic military hangar, school building in Poljari and Silos factory in the Derventa area and department store warehouse in Tulek, Bosanski Brod.
