The trial of Zlatan Arsic continued with the cross-examination of defense witnesses

The trial of Zlatan Arsic from Hajnoc, near Kosovska Kamenica, who is charged with an alleged war crime in 1999, continued with the cross-examination of defense witnesses before the Special Department of the Basic Court in Pristina. Lawyer Vasilije Arsic stated that the defense possessed strong material evidence providing an alibi for Arsic, and today's testimony also proved that the accused had been at a different location at the time when the alleged incident had taken place.

Defense witness B.T., from the same village as the accused, denied that Zlatan Arsic had been a member of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, stating that he had seen Arsic in the uniform of the Kosovo Police after the conflict.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the defense lawyer, Vasilije Arsic, stated that the prosecution had not yet presented material evidence on which the indictment was based.

"From the beginning of this case, we have insisted that the indictment lacks material evidence, relying solely on statements from some witnesses who are also contradictory throughout this proceeding. Even the prosecution witnesses have proven through their testimony that the indictment is not well-founded, that there is no material evidence. I repeat that, as the defense, we have strong material evidence proving the alibi of the accused Zlatan Arsic, and today's testimony from the defense witness demonstrates that he was indeed at a different location at the time when this incident allegedly occurred," Arsic said.

The Special Prosecutor's Office in Pristina filed charges on July 28 last year before the Special Department of the Basic Court against Zlatan Arsic for an alleged war crime against the civilian population in Kosovska Kamenica.

As announced by the Special Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo, Arsic is accused of allegedly physically assaulting and mistreating the victim with the initials B.M in his capacity as a police officer at the police station in Kosovska Kamenica in March 1999. Additionally, he is accused of participating, in collaboration with other members of the Serbian Police and paramilitary groups, in the deportation and displacement of the Albanians.

In November, Zlatan Arsic pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

During the previous hearing on January 11, witnesses from the prosecution were examined.