SAKIC:"I DON'T FEEL WELL ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THE TRIAL"

ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - The trial of Dinko Sakic, a commander of the Jasenovac concentration camp during World War II, charged with a war crime against civilians, began on Thursday morning before the Zagreb County Court. Today's session of the panel of judges in the Sakic trial was opened by the panel's president, Drazen Tripalo. Sakic was escorted to Zagreb's County Court Main Courtroom at 9.20 am. Upon Sakic's arraignment, medical documents on his condition were submitted to the panel. On the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, Sakic felt sick and had to be transferred from the custody of the Zagreb prison of Remetinec to the "Rebro" clinic. Tripalo asked the defendant about his condition and manifestations of his deteriorated health. Sakic answered he was not able to follow the course of the trial, adding that his hands were shaking. He also described what happened on the night his condition deteriorated. "I was watching TV after I had a walk. Suddenly I saw officers around me, I did not feel well and felt sick to my stomach. Then they called the ambulance and took me to the "Rebro" (clinic), where various tests were made", Sakic said. Speaking about the composition of the panel of judges, Sakic's attorney Ivan Kern said he had no insight into whether any of its members had relatives who had been imprisoned in Jasenovac. If there are such members, Kern requested that they be excluded from the panel. He added that he had no other objections to the composition of the panel. Tripalo then suggested a brief break for court physicians to check Sakic's medical documentation and give their opinion on his condition. (hina) rml