Glavaš remanded in 24-hour custody

The Prosecution of Bosnia-Herzegovina has decided to remand Branimir Glavas in 24-hour custody, it was announced in Sarajevo this afternoon. Glavas was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison last week in Zagreb, Croatia. Glavas remanded in 24-hour custody Bosnian authorities say the decision on detention came "because of necessary checks" that must be performed. Glavas's Sarajevo-based lawyer Nikica Grzic said earlier on Wednesday that it was possible his client would be released right away, since he holds a Bosnian passport. This afternoon, Grzic said that the detention likely came because the proseucutor wishes to have the documents checked, Croatia's state television HRT said. Earlier in the day, reports said that the convicted Croatian war criminal was arrested this morning in Bosnia. Croatia's Jutarnji List daily's website said that Glavas, who is also Croatian MP, would be brought in for questioning in Sarajevo, but that, "considering that Bosnian police confirmed earlier that Glavas had received Bosnian citizenship, he would be free to leave the police station once he makes his statement". The citizenship is a legal obstacle to his extradition to Croatia, the website said. Glavas was also reported as saying that he would now like to be tried in Bosnia. He said the ten-year sentence handed down to him by the Zagreb District Court last week was the "result of [Croatian PM Ivo] Sanader's instructions that date back to April 2005". Glavas was tried and found guilty on charges of war crimes committed against Serb civilians in Slavonia in 1991, and fled Croatia immediately after the sentencing. During the trial in Zagreb, his MP immunity was reinstated, and for this reason he was able to leave the country unobstructed; after his flight, a Croatian parliament commission met and stripped Glavas of his immunity, making way for an international warrant to be issued for his arrest.

Glavaš remanded in 24-hour custody

Bosnian authorities say the decision on detention came "because of necessary checks" that must be performed.

Glavaš's Sarajevo-based lawyer Nikica Gržić said earlier on Wednesday that it was possible his client would be released right away, since he holds a Bosnian passport.

This afternoon, Gržić said that the detention likely came because the proseucutor wishes to have the documents checked, Croatia's state television HRT said.

Earlier in the day, reports said that the convicted Croatian war criminal was arrested this morning in Bosnia.

Croatia's Jutarnji List daily's website said that Glavaš, who is also Croatian MP, would be brought in for questioning in Sarajevo, but that, "considering that Bosnian police confirmed earlier that Glavaš had received Bosnian citizenship, he would be free to leave the police station once he makes his statement".

The citizenship is a legal obstacle to his extradition to Croatia, the website said.

Glavaš was also reported as saying that he would now like to be tried in Bosnia. He said the ten-year sentence handed down to him by the Zagreb District Court last week was the "result of [Croatian PM Ivo] Sanader's instructions that date back to April 2005".

Glavaš was tried and found guilty on charges of war crimes committed against Serb civilians in Slavonia in 1991, and fled Croatia immediately after the sentencing.

During the trial in Zagreb, his MP immunity was reinstated, and for this reason he was able to leave the country unobstructed; after his flight, a Croatian parliament commission met and stripped Glavaš of his immunity, making way for an international warrant to be issued for his arrest.