JASENOVAC CAMP COMMANDER'S LAWYERS TO APPEAL AGAINST VERDICT

ZAGREB, Feb 29 (Hina) - Defence lawyers of Dinko Sakic are going to appeal against the verdict before the Croatian Supreme Court next week, one of two Sakic's counsels, Branko Seric, told Hina on Tuesday. In October last year, Zagreb County Court proclaimed Dinko Sakic, a former commander of the WW II Ustashi camp in Jasenovac, guilty of the war crime against civilian population and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Sakic is currently detained in Remetinec prison, Zagreb. Seric said that he, his defendant and the other defence counsel Ivan Kern on Monday received written form of the verdict, adding that they were working on the appeal which should be completed by the end of this week. The time term for lodging an appeal is 15 days since the reception of the verdict. According to Seric they will appeal on the grounds that there is substantial violation of provisions of the court procedure and after they have assessed that what was said in the proclamation of the sentence was incomprehensible and contrary to reasons of the verdict. Attorneys will also appeal against the prison sentence. Before Seric and Kern file the appeal, they are going to consult their defendant. Seric assessed that it would take at least a few months for the Supreme Court to consider the appeal and make a ruling. The Court is not limited by time to make a decision, he said. (hina) mm ms