Filipovic: Bojkovic acquitted, it's a case of mistaken identity

Tomica Bojkovic from Priluzje, who was detained yesterday at Merdare on allegations of a war crime, has been released after it was determined that it was a mistake, namely a case of mistaken identity, Bojkovic's lawyer Jovana Filipovic confirmed to Kosovo Online.

"After he was questioned today, it was established that it was an entirely different person, in other words, there was an error in identifying the perpetrator of this act, so he was released after the questioning," Filipovic said.

Bojkovic has crossed the Merdare border crossing and is on his way to Krusevac, where he currently resides, Filipovic said.

She explained to Kosovo Online that in such situations, the aggrieved party could file a lawsuit, but Bojkovic would not do so.

"A person who has been unjustly deprived of their freedom has the right to compensation for both material damage if they have suffered such damage and non-material damage," Filipovic said.

Previously, the Special Prosecutor's Office also stated that Bojkovic had been ordered to be released immediately.

"After reviewing the criminal complaint of the Kosovo Police, specifically the Unit for the Investigation of War Crimes, the prosecutor has determined that there is no legal basis for ordering detention for the detained person, and therefore, the Special Prosecutor's Office has ordered his immediate release," the statement from the Special Prosecutor's Office reads.

The Kosovo Police announced yesterday that a Serbian individual, T.B. (52), who had been arrested at the Merdare border crossing, was suspected of having committed war crimes against the civilian population in the municipality of Vucitrn in the period from 1998 to 1999.