THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - Vladimir Kovacevic aka Rambo, a former JNA captain indicted for the 1991 attacks on Dubrovnik, will not enter his plea at the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on Monday due to health
problems, the Hague-based tribunal stated.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - Vladimir Kovacevic aka Rambo, a
former JNA captain indicted for the 1991 attacks on Dubrovnik, will
not enter his plea at the UN war crimes tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia on Monday due to health problems, the Hague-based
tribunal stated. #L#
Due to health reasons, the accused was unable to make his initial
court appearance and enter his plea, and his appearance has been
postponed, tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said.
Kovacevic, aged 42, was arrested in Serbia on September 25 and
transferred to The Hague on October 23. His Belgrade attorney,
Borivoje Borovic, requested prior to his client's transfer that
Kovacevic undergo psychiatric evaluation to establish if he was fit
to stand trial. According to his attorneys, Kovacevic is suffering
from post-traumatic stress disorder and has strong suicidal
urges.
A second, amended indictment issued on 17 October 2003 charges
Kovacevic on six counts with individual and command responsibility
for violations of the laws and customs of war during the Yugoslav
People's Army (JNA) attacks on Dubrovnik in the autumn and winter of
1991.
Commanded by Vladimir Kovacevic and co-defendants, JNA forces on 1
October 1991 launched an attack on Dubrovnik from Montenegro,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and from the sea. Forty-two civilians were
killed and hundreds were wounded in the shelling, reads the
indictment, in which personal data of victims are cited.
Hundreds of shells landed in Dubrovnik during the attack, including
the city's old part, which is under UNESCO protection. Some 70
percent of the facilities in the old part of the city was damaged.
At the time of the attacks, Kovacevic was the commander of the 3rd
Battalion of the JNA's Trebinje Brigade.
(hina) rml sb