SERB FREED AFTER CAPTURE AT CRO-YU BORDER

( Editorial: --> 2886 ) VUKOVAR, March 27 (Hina) - Dragan Lapcevic, a Serb arrested by Croatian authorities at the Ilok border on the night between 23 and 24 March, was released from custody on 25 March. He was arrested on suspicion of committing a war crime during 1991. According to information received from the Joint Council of Municipalities (ZVO), the decision to discontinue the custody was given by the Osijek County Court, taking into account Lapcevic's motion for suspending current legal proceedings against him and initiating new proceedings from the beginning. The proceedings have gone back to the investigation phase and Lapcevic has been freed. In a statement published on 24 March, the Joint Council strongly protested against the arrest of Dragan Lapcevic. Lapcevic's name was on a list of 150 persons exempted from amnesty, however his name is not on a reduced list. The original list was modified on request of Serbs and the international community and now records 25 non-pardoned persons of Serb nationality on the territory of the Croatian Danube region. (hina) mm mrb/as 272024 MET mar 98