KISELJAK, Oct 6 (Hina) - Jadranko Lucic, a suspect in the assassination of the Bosnian Federation's Deputy Interior Minister Jozo Leutar, on Monday turned himself to an investigating judge of the Sarajevo cantonal court. The suspect
Lucic, escorted by his defence lawyer Stjepan Vukadin, arrived in the court at about 11.00 am today. According to this court's decision on launching an investigation into Leutar's murder, which happened in the mid-March 1999 in Sarajevo, Jadranko Lucic (aged 32), together with a person whose identity was not given, arrived from Kiseljak in Sarajevo in the morning of 16 March and activated an explosive device shortly after a car with Leutar inside it began moving. It is still unknown how Lucic and the other man activated the bomb. The assassination took place in Alipasina Street near the U.S. Embassy in the Bosnian capital. Leutar, who was sitting at the place
KISELJAK, Oct 6 (Hina) - Jadranko Lucic, a suspect in the
assassination of the Bosnian Federation's Deputy Interior Minister
Jozo Leutar, on Monday turned himself to an investigating judge of
the Sarajevo cantonal court.
The suspect Lucic, escorted by his defence lawyer Stjepan Vukadin,
arrived in the court at about 11.00 am today.
According to this court's decision on launching an investigation
into Leutar's murder, which happened in the mid-March 1999 in
Sarajevo, Jadranko Lucic (aged 32), together with a person whose
identity was not given, arrived from Kiseljak in Sarajevo in the
morning of 16 March and activated an explosive device shortly after
a car with Leutar inside it began moving. It is still unknown how
Lucic and the other man activated the bomb. The assassination took
place in Alipasina Street near the U.S. Embassy in the Bosnian
capital. Leutar, who was sitting at the place by the driver,
sustained grave injuries and died twelve days after the
assassination.
According to the court's document of 25 September 2000, six persons
are believed to be implicated either as the masterminds or direct
killers. Of them three have so far been arrested: Zoran Basic the
third on the indictment list, Zeljko Cosic the fourth on the list
and Dominik Ilijasevic the second on that list.
The prime suspect in Leutar's murder - Ivan Andabak - was
apprehended about two months ago in Croatia but he was arrested for
another crime.
Mario Milicevic, also believed to be involved in Leutar's
assassination is still at large, according to the court.
The court's document reads that Jadranko Lucic is on the run, but
Lucic claims that he has never received any summons nor has any
warrant for his arrest been issued at any level.
Prior to his appearance before the investigating judge, Jadranko
Lucic told Hina that he had not been involved in any criminal act for
which he was blamed. He added that he learnt of his indictment by
chance.
"I know nobody of the suspects, except Ilijasevic, whom I know
casually, as he also lives in Kiseljak," Lucic said, whose place of
residence is Kiseljak (near Sarajevo).
On that day I was on duty and there was written evidence on that,
Lucic said.
Asked what prompted him to surrender voluntarily, Lucic, who is a
member of the Bosnian Croat Defence Council (HVO), responded that
he had nothing to fear as he was not guilty. He added that after he
had learnt of that he was suspected in Leutar's death, he did not
live with his family as he was afraid of the apprehension.
"I could no longer bear it and as I am innocent, I have decided to
make this step," Lucic added.
(hina) ms