Jelavic, former Croat member of Bosnia-Herzegovina's state Presidency and ex-leader of Bosnia's Croatian Democratic Union party, has been in custody since January 2004. He is on trial for involvement in the embezzlement of budgetary funds which the Croatian government had been sending as assistance to Bosnian Croats.
Counsel Dragan Barbaric said the defence would offer 50,000 euros and Jelavic's identity documents as guarantee that he would not leave his place of residence if released from custody.
Barbaric said that the prosecution had so far failed to prove that Jelavic had caused any damage or acquired illegal gain. He added the investigation which preceded the indictment had been shoddy and that the indictment was incomplete.
The panel of judges said it would make a decision on Thursday, when the first defence witnesses will also be examined.