ZADAR COURT ACQUITS A FORMER 'JNA' OFFICER OF WAR CRIMES

ZADAR, Oct 18 (Hina) - The Zadar Court on Friday acquitted a former Yugoslav People Army (JNA) officer Mirsad Catic (now an official in Bosnia's Embassy in Bonn) on war crimes charges. The indictment alleged that Catic had committed war crimes against Zadar civilian population in September and October 1991. Following its ruling to free Catic of charges, the Zadar Court released him from custody and it would pay the proceedings' and trial's costs. The president of the court council, a judge Dubravko Krpina, read the court decision. Catic was a low-ranking officer in the then JNA, and he "did not enjoy confidence of commanding staff of the (JNA) army at the critical time. Witnesses for the prosecution turned unreliable," Krpina said. Krpina announced that the Court would continue trials of General Momcilo Perisic and other 18 JNA officers accused of war crimes against civilians during the Homeland War. They are to be tried in absentia. (hina) mm mš 181620 MET oct 96