Court orders one month of detention for nine men arrested over war crimes in Zubin Potok

The Basic Court in Pristina – Special Department has ordered one month of detention for nine defendants suspected of the criminal offense of “War crimes against the civilian population,” as KosovaPress reports.

After the hearing, the pre-trial judge granted the request of the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo, setting detention at one month for each of the defendants.

The defendants, identified by the initials D.D., M.R., M.R., R.R., S.D., S.D., V.L., R.R. and D.D., are suspected of the criminal offense of “War crimes against the civilian population” under Article 142 in conjunction with Article 22 of the former Criminal Code of the former SFRY.

The court assessed detention as an adequate measure, since there is a real risk that, if released, the defendants would obstruct the normal course of the criminal proceedings, evade prosecution and become unreachable for the justice authorities. That assessment rests on the fact that the defendants hold citizenship and residence in the Republic of Serbia and possess Serbian passports, so there is a concrete risk that they could flee and evade justice, according to KosovaPress.

According to the court, if released the defendants would also risk influencing evidence and testimony, hindering the fair and full administration of evidence. Dissatisfied parties have the right to appeal this ruling to the Court of Appeals, through the Basic Court in Pristina.