18 SUSPECTED SPIES BROUGHT TO TRIAL

ZAGREB, March 11 (Hina) - A trial of 18 people charged with espionage began in Zagreb's military court Monday. Three of the defendants, Mihajlo Knezevic, Mirko Vuletic and Mile Kosanovic, fled the country and will be tried in absentia. They were charged with organising and directing a spy network in Croatia during a state of war. The other fifteen, who are in custody, were charged with collaborating with and gathering information for the spy network, also during a state of war. Among the defendants are one who worked in the Parliament, one in the Justice Ministry and a police officer. The defence requested separate trials for each defendant. Deputy Military Prosecutor Ivica Ovcar opposed the request, contending that the defendants were in collusion. The defence also requested that the proceedings be tape- recorded. The panel of judges, presided over by Ratko Scekic, rejected both requests, on the grounds that there were sufficient grounds for presuming collusion, particularly since evidence of the group's spying activities had been collected at the same place - the former rebel stronghold of Knin. As for tape-recording, the Court saw no need for it because the proceedings would be taken down in shorthand. A third request of the defence, that the defendants be tried in civilian court, was also rejected, on the grounds that the offence of espionage belonged within the jurisdiction of the military court. (hina) mm as 111956 MET mar 96