Lawyer Arsic: The prosecution has not presented evidence linking Zlatan Arsic to the offense charged against him

Lawyer Vasilije Arsic, the defense counsel for Zlatan Arsic, whose trial for alleged war crimes against the civilian population in Kosovska Kamenica continued today before the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina, said that the defense had material evidence that Arsic had not committed the alleged offense, while the prosecution had not presented any valid evidence so far.

Arsic stated that the main witness in the trial was contradictory in his statements, and he hoped to prove Arsic's innocence.

"The defense has many questions for the injured party, as the main witness. We believe that he is contradictory in his statements and that we will prove that he is an unreliable witness, and that this is some fabricated story of his, and that we will prove Zlatan's innocence during the trial because we have material evidence that proves his alibi, while on the other hand, the prosecution has not presented any evidence linking Zlatan Arsic to the offense charged against him. We hope that the court will be objective, consider all the facts, and make a fair decision", Arsic said.

Zorica Arsic, the wife of the accused, stated that her husband had been first arrested in 2015 when he had been questioned, and then in 2017 when it had been stated that the case was closed because there was no evidence.

"He worked in the Kosovo Police for 20 years. It's very difficult; the children are upset. I can't say anything until the case is closed, but we doubt the evidence. We've reached out everywhere, but no one has listened to us. I have three underage children; for New Year, my daughter wished for her father to return from prison, while all the other children asked for dolls and other gifts because they know he is innocent. He was in the army in 1998 and 1999, only returning after the Kosovo war, so he wasn't here during that period", she said.

Zlatan Arsic was arrested on March 7, 2023, at the border crossing between Gnjilane and Bujanovac. The indictment against him was filed on July 28 of the same year, stating that Arsic, as a police officer, allegedly beat and mistreated the injured party, identified by the initials B.M., at the police station in Kosovska Kamenica in March 1999. The indictment further alleges that he, in collaboration with other members of the Serbian Police and paramilitary groups, participated in the deportation and displacement of Albanians.