The State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has turned down a request to release Croatian war veteran Tihomir Purda from extradition custody, but allows for the possibility of his being extradited to Croatia if it is approved in writing by the judicial authorities of Serbia, which has issued an international warrant for Purda's arrest on war crimes charges, court spokeswoman Selma Hadzic told media on Friday.
The court on Thursday considered the request filed by Purda's attorney Josip Muselimovic, who argued that his client should be released considering the fact that Croatian and Serbian judicial officials had reached an agreement in principle that Belgrade would refer his case to Croatia for prosecution.
Hadzic said that the request for release was rejected as incomplete. She, however, said that it was possible that Purda, who is currently being held in the detention unit of the penitentiary in Zenica, would be extradited to Croatia.
"That's possible, on condition that Serbia informs the State Court in writing that it agrees with his extradition to Croatia," Hadzic said, stressing that everything now depended on Serbia.
Should Serbia decide not to request Purda's extradition, then he would need to tell the court whether he agrees to be extradited to Croatia. If he agreed, the judicial authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia could organise his transfer to Croatia within 48 hours.
Purda has been in custody in Zenica prison since January 5 when he was arrested on entering Bosnia and Herzegovina from Croatia at the Orasje border crossing.
