TRIAL OF DINKO SAKIC CONTINUES AFTER SUMMER RECESS

ZAGREB, Aug 30 (Hina) - The trial of the head of the World War II Ustashi concentration camp of Jasenovac, Dinko Sakic, continued on Monday before the Zagreb County Court after summer recess (which started on July 15), however, it had to be postponed for September 20 due to the failure of witness Ante Mestrovic to appear before the court. The president of the panel of judges, Drazen Tripalo, said the court had not received any information on whether witness Mestrovic, who is a resident of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and who had been in Jasenovac during 1943 and 1944 as a member of the Ustashi youth, had received the summons. The Justice Ministry informed the court that on August 26 a rush note had been sent through diplomatic channels to the Justice Ministry of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina but there has been no reply as yet. Branko Seric, one of Sakic's attorneys, said the witness had informed him that he knew about today's hearing but was unable to travel to Zagreb due to poor health. Following a short debate, the panel of judges decided that witness would again be summoned through diplomatic channels. The parties in the trial were today handed the findings and opinion of expert witness Stjepan Voeglein on the defendant's condition, according to which 'objective problems' cannot affect Sakic's presence at the trial. Explaining the nature of those problems, judge Ranko Marijan, who is standing in for court spokesman Damir Kos, said Sakic had requested a medical examination in late July because his hand was shaking. During the last examination on August 25, the expert witness established that Sakic's condition was improving and that there was no reason why he should not attend the trial. (hina) rml