TESTIMONY OF KEY WITNESS IN BJELOVAR WAR CRIMES CASE POSTPONED

BJELOVAR, Sept 5 (Hina) - The testimony of the key witness in investigative proceedings against four former policemen from Bjelovar, suspected of war crimes against prisoners of war and civilians, was postponed on Wednesday. Savo Kovac was the only one to survive the execution of six members of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) reserve forces near Bjelovar, some 60 kilometres east of Zagreb, in 1991. A former deputy superintendent for operative tasks in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County police, Luka Markesic, and special police force members Zdenko Radic, Zoran Maras and Ivan Orlovic are suspected of the crime. Although he arrived at the courtroom, Kovac did not testify due to a poor mental condition. He is expected to give his testimony in the presence of a psychiatrist at the end of this or the beginning of next week. The court today heard the testimony of Tihomir Vagner, a former head of the operative police force on duty, from whom the suspects reportedly took the key to the room where the prisoners were kept to lead them away for execution. No information on witness testimonies could be obtained at the Bjelovar court today. Details of the investigative proceedings will be available upon the completion of the procedure, when the investigating judge is to decide if the police charges are founded. (hina) rml