Bosnia Remands Two Terrorism Suspects in Custody

The Bosnian state court on December 24 remanded Armen Dzelko and Muharem Dunic in custody because it assessed there was a danger that they might abscond, obstruct the criminal proceedings by influencing witnesses or repeat the crimes with which they are charged, as well as for the security of the general public.

At a hearing at which the custody request was discussed, the prosecution said Dzelko had left Bosnia and Herzegovina and gone to Syria on February 12, 2013.

It said he joined ISIS in Baghouz and fought for it until its defeat, adding that he stayed in Syria for more than six years and was wounded several times.

As for Dunic, the prosecution said he left Austria and went to Syria together with his wife in 2014. While in Syria, he was trained by ISIS in handling weapons and waging war, held a military position and received monthly payments.

According to the prosecution, he was arrested in Baghouz in February 2019 and then spent ten months in prison.

The defence meanwhile proposed that the two suspects’ movements be restricted rather than placing them in custody.

But the court ruled that both suspects be remanded in custody for a period potentially lasting until January 19, 2020.

Last week Dzelko and Dunic were repatriated to Bosnia and Herzegovina by plane together with Emir Alisic, Senad Kasupovic, Miralem Berbic, Jasmin Keserovic and Hamza Labidi, who are also suspected of fighting on foreign battlefronts and were previously remanded in custody by the state court.