Detention up to 30 Days for KLA member suspected of war crimes against Serbs

The Higher Court in Belgrade today ordered detention for up to 30 days for Tefik Mustafi, who was arrested two days ago at the Merdare crossing on suspicion of committing war crimes against the civilian population in Kosovo as a member of the KLA.

The pre-trial judge of the War Crimes Department of the Higher Court in Belgrade issued a decision today stipulating that Mustafi can be detained for a maximum of 30 days, according to a statement from the court reported by RTS.

The statement indicates that Mustafi's detention was ordered for legal reasons specified by the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, namely due to circumstances indicating a risk of flight, as well as the existence of special circumstances indicating that he would obstruct the proceedings by influencing witnesses.

"The accused M.T. is charged with the commission of the criminal act of war crimes against the civilian population in co-perpetration," the statement reads.

An appeal against this decision is allowed to the criminal trial chamber of the Higher Court in Belgrade - War Crimes Department, within three days of receiving the decision.

The arrest of Mustafi at the Merdare crossing was announced two days ago by the Minister of the Interior of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, who stated that he is suspected of war crimes against the civilian population in Kosovo.

Dacic explained that Mustafa, as a member of the KLA, is mentioned in witness statements as a participant in the abduction of police officers Goran Marinković, Zivojin Pavic, and Predrag Milosevic on June 19, 1999, on the main road from Pristina to Gnjilane, near the place Labljan, after which all traces of them were lost.