Kovac rejected the request with the explanation that the investigation into the case was over and that one must honour the six-month detention deadline during which the Prosecutor's Office must decide whether to indict or release the suspects.
The Prosecutor's Office today requested a 15-day detention extension, the legal deadline for deciding whether or not to issue an indictment after the termination of investigation, Osijek County Court spokesman Miroslav Rozac said.
Prosecutor's Office spokesman Zvonko Kuharic said the Office would make the decision on the indictment within the legal deadline, possibly as early as this week.
Kuharic said the Prosecutor's Office requested the extension of detention based on the Rome Statute to thoroughly examine the material gathered during the investigation of 147 witnesses.