PUPOVAC SENDS LETTER TO JUSTICE MINISTER OVER BRAKUS INCIDENT

( Editorial: --> 0137 ) ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - A Serb member of the Croatian National Parliament on Monday sent a letter to Justice Minister Miroslav Separovic, seeking information on the circumstances of the recent suicide of a Gospic prison inmate. "Since we are unaware of the circumstances under which the convicted Brakus died and that every death in prison calls for special treatment, I ask as a parliamentary member and president of the Serb National Council that you inform me of the circumstances under which Milan Brakus died," Milorad Pupovac said in his letter. Pupovac said that following a meeting with President Franjo Tudjman and Minister Separovic, he believed that the problems of valid and invalid convictions for the most serious crimes would be resolved in accordance to what was agreed upon. "Regretfully this tragic case well as previous incidents of hunger strikes in several prisons indicates that totally nothing has been done since what was agreed upon," he said. Pupovac added that appeals by the convicted were not heard within the legally defined period, and they had to wait a year before judgements were given by the Supreme Court. Brakus had been convicted to a 10-year prison sentence for criminal activities against humanity and international law. He committed suicide in the Gospic District Prison on 11 March. The Brakus case was revealed on Friday by Serb People's Party (SNS) president Milan Djukic in an open letter. Minister Separovic has responded to questions by Hina regarding the tragic incident. The Justice Minister said the Supreme Court on 18 February had dismissed Braskus' appeal and confirmed the verdict of the Gospic County Court, which the convict had refused to accept. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Zagreb had been informed of the suicide, Separovic said. He added that according available documentation, Brakus had not complained about the conduct of police, shown signs of depressive behaviour nor given indications that he would commit suicide. (Hina) as mb 162350 MET mar 98