The War Crimes Chamber of the High Court in Belgrade has asked Bosnian state prosecutors to hear Croatian war veteran Tihomir Purda, who is in custody in Zenica awaiting extradition to Serbia to face charges of war crimes allegedly committed in the Vukovar area in the early 1990s, spokesman for the State Prosecutor's Office Boris Grubesic told press in Sarajevo on Monday.
"This proceeding has nothing to do with the request for Purda's extradition, which will be decided by the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Grubesic said, adding that Purda would be heard as soon as necessary technical preparations were made.
Grubesic explained that in cases like this, a hearing is conducted by a Bosnian state prosecutor, while representatives of the court that has requested the hearing attend as observers.
Acting on request from the State Prosecutor's Office, the State Court last week extended Purda's detention for up to six months to allow time for deciding on the Serbian extradition request.
Purda was arrested in Bosnia and Herzegovina on January 5 on an international warrant issued by Serbia which wants him in connection with alleged war crimes against prisoners of war and infirm people.
