The Croatian Chief State Attorney's Office (DORH) received around noon on Friday a copy of a file charging Croatian war veteran Tihomir Purda with war crimes against wounded and infirm persons, and the copy was delivered via the Croatian Embassy to Serbia, DORH said in a statement on its web site.
DORH decided to refer the case to the Osijek County Prosecutor's Office instead of the Vukovar County Prosecutor's Office which has territorial and subject matter jurisdiction in the case.
After it studies the submitted material, the Osijek County Prosecutor's Office will decide on further proceedings, DORH said.
The State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier in the day turned down a request to release Purda from extradition custody, but allowed for the possibility of his being extradited to Croatia if it was approved in writing by the judicial authorities of Serbia.
Should Serbia decide not to request Purda's extradition, he would need to tell the court whether he agrees to be extradited to Croatia. If he agrees, 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, on a warrant issued by Serbia.
