ROZIC COMPLAINS TO MINISTER ABOUT POLICE CONDUCT DURING ARREST

RIJEKA, Sept 27 (Hina) - Ivica Rozic, one of five apprehended war crimes suspects from Croatia's central town of Gospic, sent a letter to Croatian Interior Minister Sime Lucin Wednesday, complaining about the conduct of police officers during his arrest, Rozic's attorney Mirko Ruzic said. Ruzic visited his client at a psychiatric hospital in Zagreb Wednesday. Rozic has been hospitalised for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His attorney told reporters Rozic had expressed wish for Minister Lucin to visit him in hospital to warn him about the incorrect conduct of police, not to give a statement about the investigative proceedings. Rijeka County Court investigative judge Sajonara Culina consented to the motion, but the defence council protested, claiming such a visit would not be appropriate. In his letter to the Interior Minister, Rozic said that during his arrest upon his return from a hospital in Rijeka to Gospic, police had unnecessarily used physical force and wielded weapons, although he had not resisted arrest, while police officers never even identified themselves. Besides, the attorney asserted, Rozic's wife had no valid information about his whereabouts for more than two days, which is particularly important considering his health condition. Ruzic added his client had protested to Lucin for police conduct towards himself, but also towards the other suspects and Croatian Homeland War soldiers in general. (hina) lml jn