The State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday decided to extend up to six months extradition detention for Croatian war veteran Tihomir Purda, who is wanted in Serbia for alleged war crimes committed in Vukovar in 1991.
Detention for Purda was extended so that the court can have enough time to consider Serbia's request for his transfer.
The defence team for Purda announced an appeal against the latest decision by the Court in Sarajevo.
After the court held a hearing to consider the prosecution's request for extended detention and the defence team's counterclaims, the court's spokeswoman, Selma Hadzic, said today that the court decided to uphold the prosecution's request, as on 14 February the temporary 40-day extradition detention for the Croatian national would expire.
"Given that the Court could not make a ruling on extradition by that deadline, it decided to prolong the extradition detention to last six months from his arrest," the spokeswoman said.
Purda has been in the Zenica prison since his arrest on the Bosnian-Croatian border crossing of Orasje on 5 January.
The office of the Serbian war crimes prosecutor said in the meantime that it was in possession of Purda's confession, which was why it had to act in line with the law and request his extradition from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Bosnian State Court is expected to decide whether Purda will be handed over to Serbia or not, but the final say in the matter lies with Bosnia's Justice Minister.
During today's hearing, Purda and his counsel opposed the possibility that his extradition detention in Zenica be extended and asked for his release, while the Bosnian Prosecutor's Office further explained Serbia's request.
Lawyer Josip Muselimovic told the State Court that all legal requirements had been met for the release of his client and for turning down Serbia's extradition request.
Muselimovic reiterated that evidence against Purda had been collected unlawfully, as his statement had been extorted under torture in a concentration camp in Serbia.
The lawyer also recalled that Bosnia and Herzegovina can extradite a foreigner to a third country only if there is a guilty verdict or grounds to suspect that he or she committed crime.
He said that the proceedings conducted by Croatian prosecutorial authorities in Osijek showed that there were no leads connecting Purda to any war crimes.
Responding to questions by Judge Halil Lagumdzija, Purda, visibly excited, said he agreed with his lawyer and stressed that he was against his extradition detention being prolonged.
Prosecutor Jadranka Lokmic-Misiraca insisted on the prolongation, saying that Purda was a flight risk.
Earlier this month, the Bosnian State Attorney's Office asked the State Court to keep this Croatian war veteran in extradition custody up to six months.
