Attorney Josip Muselimovic on Thursday appealed a Bosnian State Court decision to extend extradition custody for Croatian war veteran Tihomir Purda and the court is likely to decide on the appeal next week.
Muselimovic reiterated that the war crimes accusations against Purda were based on a confession extorted in a Serb detention camp and that he was in no way connected to those crimes.
"The most tragic thing is that even those who rigged this and insist on custody and extradition know that he committed no crime. I am therefore deeply convinced that Mr Purda will go home," said Muselimovic.
The Bosnian State Court confirmed the appeal filed by Purda's attorney was expected to be considered next week. Spokeswoman Selma Hadzic said a special panel would make a decision after hearing the arguments of the state prosecution and the defence.
The Court yesterday decided to extend Purda's extradition custody in Zenica up to six months, to have enough time to decide on Serbia's plea for his extradition.
The Serbian judiciary has accused Purda of involvement in the killing of two and the grave wounding of one member of the former Yugoslav army during fighting around Borovo Naselje, eastern Croatia in 1991. In 2008, it issued an international warrant for Purda's arrest, based on which he was arrested at the Croatian-Bosnian border of Orasje on January 5.
