ATTORNEYS URGE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO RELEASE FORMER BOSNIAN CROAT OFFICIALS

MOSTAR, May 1 (Hina) - Attorneys representing former Bosnian Croat officials Ante Jelavic and Miroslav Prce have urged Bosnian Constitutional Court president Marko Tadic and Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac to ensure the release of their clients from custody and thus carry out a Constitutional Court decision to that effect.#L# The Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina has refused to release Jelavic and Prce, whom the state prosecutor's office charged with abuse of office in connection with Hercegovacka Banka. This Court has said it is not bound by the Constitutional Court decision as it refers to the prosecution of Croat self-government before the cantonal court in Sarajevo. Attorneys Josip Muselimovic and Zarko Bulic also objected to the decision of the Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina to extend custody for Jelavic and Prce for two months despite the Constitutional Court's decision of April 19 that proceedings before the cantonal court in Sarajevo be discontinued until it was established if the two former officials enjoyed immunity. (Hina) ha