WITNESS FROM BOSNIA FAILS TO APPEAR IN COURT TO TESTIFY IN SAKIC CASE

ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - A witness, Milos Despot, who lives in the north-eastern Bosnian town of Bijeljina, did not appear in the Zagreb County Court on Tuesday where he should have testified in the trial of Dinko Sakic, a former commander of the Ustashi concentration camp in Jasenovac. That's why the resumption of the trial has been postponed for Wednesday when the first witness from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should give testimony. The head of the panel of judges, Drazen Tripalo, said the summons had been forwarded to Milos Despot through th diplomatic channels by help of the Justice Ministry, but it was unknown whether Despot received it. The panel of judges will subsequently decide whether it is necessary to reiterate the summons for this witness in the Bosnian Serb entity. On Thursday, May 6, the second witness from Yugoslavia is due to testify. Next week the other two witness from Yugoslavia are announced for testifying, Tripalo said. These witnesses are Josip Erlich, Mihajlo Maric, Eduard Sajer and Josip Stjepanovic. On Tuesday, Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic visited the County Court and was acquainted with the situation and the work of the court. The minister visited also the press room from which reporters are covering the Sakic trial. (hina) jn ms