CHIEF SUSPECT IN "LEUTAR CASE" TRIAL PLEADS NOT GUILTY

SARAJEVO, June 12 (Hina) - A trial of six Bosnian Croats accused of the murder of Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina Deputy Interior Minister Jozo Leutar continued before the Sarajevo Canton Court on Tuesday. The trial started last week after an investigation which lasted almost two years. The indictees, headed by a retired Croatian Defence Council (HVO) general, Ivan Andabak, are charged with conspiracy to subvert the constitutional order of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The trial continued with the second indictee Dominik Ilijasevic Como presenting his defence. In a testimony which lasted nearly two hours, Ilijasevic dismissed all charges and pleaded not guilty. The indictee said the entire indictment was based on speculations and was politically motivated. "This indictment is aimed at convicting innocent people and hiding those who killed Leutar," he said. Ilijasevic said the charge saying he had instructed the third indictee Jedinko Bajkusa to obtain the explosive used in Leutar's assassination was a fabrication. However, he refused to state his whereabouts on four critical days before Leutar's assassination on March 19, 1999, saying he first wanted to gain insight into the entire testimony of a protected witness who charged him as the main culprit. Ilijasevic told the court he knew the identity of the protected witness adding he had already had conflicts with that person. The "Leutar case" trial is covered by a large number of journalists and is taking place under intensive security measures. (hina) rml