Protection Measures for Witnesses Upheld at Miletic Trial

According to the charges, Senad Sabic and Ramo Brkic promised to give a certain amount of money to state court judge Azra Miletic, which she allegedly accepted. The prosecution alleges that Sabic and Brkic, who were facing organized crime charges, bribed Miletic in order to influence the outcome of a second instance proceeding against them.

The court rejected the defense’s claims that protection measures for state prosecution witnesses were unfounded. In the previous hearing, the defense argued that the witnesses had been granted protection measures without any evidence indicating that they were under threat or pressure.

“The legal requirements for determining protection measures have been met, taking into account that witnesses S-1, S-2 and S-3 showed a legitimate fear for their safety and the safety of their loved ones,” the state court decision reads.

The decision cites a legal provision which ensures that witnesses who feel their safety or the safety of their family is endangered by participating in the court proceedings are entitled to protection measures.

The decision states that a witness who believes that they may receive threats as a result of their testimony is at risk, and has a reasonable ground for requesting protection measures.

The defense argued that witnesses are not under threat in this particular case. The court reviewed the statements given by the witnesses during their examination again.

“The testimony of these witnesses directly incriminate the defendants in this case, since they provide relevant information regarding the execution of acts for which the defendants have been charged,” judge Minka Kreho stated in the decision.