RIJEKA, Dec 20 (Hina) - An investigating judge in the seaport of Rijeka, who is conducting a probe against Tihomir Oreskovic and other four citizens of Gospic (central Croatia) suspected of war crimes against civilians, on Wednesday
questioned a new suspect in this case, Stjepan Grandic. Grandic was apprehended by police in Gospic yesterday and subsequently transferred to Rijeka for the questioning. According to unofficial reports, Grandic was a former commander of a military barracks in Perusic (a greater Gospic area), and is still an active military staffer. After the four-hour-long interrogation, judge Sajonara Culina told reporters that Grandic had been questioned about events in Lipova Glavica. Some of witnesses previously interviewed have said that a group of ethnic Serbs was killed at that site. Under the judge's decision, Grandic will be detained in custody for 48 hours and during this
RIJEKA, Dec 20 (Hina) - An investigating judge in the seaport of
Rijeka, who is conducting a probe against Tihomir Oreskovic and
other four citizens of Gospic (central Croatia) suspected of war
crimes against civilians, on Wednesday questioned a new suspect in
this case, Stjepan Grandic.
Grandic was apprehended by police in Gospic yesterday and
subsequently transferred to Rijeka for the questioning.
According to unofficial reports, Grandic was a former commander of
a military barracks in Perusic (a greater Gospic area), and is still
an active military staffer.
After the four-hour-long interrogation, judge Sajonara Culina told
reporters that Grandic had been questioned about events in Lipova
Glavica. Some of witnesses previously interviewed have said that a
group of ethnic Serbs was killed at that site.
Under the judge's decision, Grandic will be detained in custody for
48 hours and during this time term the competent office of the State
Prosecution must submit a request for the enlargement of the
investigating process. A lawyer in Rijeka, Milenko Skrlec, was
appointed to be Grandic's legal counsel. Skrlec declined to answer
reporters' questions explaining that he was bound by Article 207 of
the criminal procedure act to keep silent.
Present at Grandic's interrogation was one of attorneys of another
five Gospic suspects, lawyer Velimir Dosen, although he was not
called to come.
After the questioning, Dosen complained to reporters about the
court's failure to call other lawyers at this interrogation which
he viewed as exceptionally important. According to him, this was
incorrect as during this interrogation names of the prime suspect
Oreskovic and the second suspect on the list, Ivica Rozic, had been
mentioned, and therefore it would have been important to make it
possible for their lawyers to hear the statement.
Dosen asserted that a series of important data had been given during
this questioning, and they could mark the turning point in the
entire investigation.
On Thursday new prosecution witnesses will be questioned.
(hina) ms