ZUBIN POTOK SERBS' CUSTODY EXTENDED UNTIL DECEMBER 25

PRIŠTINA, OCTOBER 27 /SRNA/ - Custody for nine Serbs from the Zubin Potok area, suspected of an alleged war crime against the civilian population, has been extended by two months, until December 25, by a ruling of the Supreme Court in Priština.

Lawyer Jelena Krivokapić said she received the Supreme Court ruling by email yesterday. The ruling, issued on October 23, rejects as unfounded the requests for protection of legality filed by the defense lawyers of the nine suspects against the Priština Basic Court's decision of September 29 ordering their detention.

"The same reasons were given as in both lower-court decisions: flight risk, possible influence on witnesses and the existence of reasonable suspicion that they committed the offense they are charged with," Krivokapić said.

Lawyer Predrag Miljković, who represents Miloš Rašković, pointed to a contradiction in the court's reasoning regarding his client, who is also listed as a witness in the proceedings.

"Miloš Rašković is listed as a witness in the proceedings against himself. We pointed out in our appeal that this is impossible. It was rejected," Miljković said.

He explained that the Supreme Court's reasoning is even worse than that of the lower courts, because it states that there is a reasonable risk the defendant will influence witnesses, meaning there is a risk that Rašković, the defendant, will influence himself as a witness, Kosovo Online reported.

On October 8, the Priština Court of Appeals rejected the defense's appeals against the Basic Court's decision ordering one month of detention for the nine Serbs from Zubin Potok suspected of a war crime against the civilian population.

The Priština Basic Court ordered up to 30 days of detention for the nine Serbs from Zubin Potok on September 29, after they had twice been held in police custody for up to 48 hours.

Their lawyers then filed appeals, asking that they be allowed to defend themselves while at liberty and proposing house arrest or other alternative measures to ensure their presence in the proceedings.

The so-called Kosovo police arrested the nine Serbs from Zubin Potok on September 27.