Serbia wants indicted Croat extradited

Serbia has asked Bosnia to extradite Croatian national Tihomir Purda, wanted on a war crimes indictment. Serbian Deputy War Crimes Prosecutor Bruno Vekaric said this office "with regret accepted the decision" of Croatia not to request Purda's extradition. Serbia wants indicted Croat extradited He also said that if Bosnia extradites the indictee, Serbia will "invite all monitors" to oversee the trial. Meanwhile, Tihomir Purda will stay in custody in Bosnia-Herzegovina for another 22 days, because of the extradition request. According to Croatian media, Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina Spokesperson Selma Hadzic has stated that Serbia filed on Thursday a request to extend Purda's custody for a maximum 40 days. The request was submitted so Serbia would have enough time to supply the documents needed to decide on a potential extradition, Hadzic noted, adding that the court decided to grant the request. Purda has been in custody since January 5, when he was arrested based on a warrant issued by Serbia. He was originally supposed to stay in custody for 18 days. If Serbia fails to provide the documents needed for an extradition, Purda could automatically be set free. In 2007, Serbia issued a warrant for the arrest of Purda and two other Croats on suspicion that they shot at wounded JNA soldiers in 1991 and killed two of them, while the third died in a hospital. According to reports, the Croatian authorities knew about the warrant but did not act on it. Tihomir Purda (Branimir Bradaric, vecernji.hr)

Serbia wants indicted Croat extradited

He also said that if Bosnia extradites the indictee, Serbia will "invite all monitors" to oversee the trial.

Meanwhile, Tihomir Purda will stay in custody in Bosnia-Herzegovina for another 22 days, because of the extradition request.

According to Croatian media, Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina Spokesperson Selma Hadžić has stated that Serbia filed on Thursday a request to extend Purda's custody for a maximum 40 days.

The request was submitted so Serbia would have enough time to supply the documents needed to decide on a potential extradition, Hadžić noted, adding that the court decided to grant the request.

Purda has been in custody since January 5, when he was arrested based on a warrant issued by Serbia. He was originally supposed to stay in custody for 18 days.

If Serbia fails to provide the documents needed for an extradition, Purda could automatically be set free.

In 2007, Serbia issued a warrant for the arrest of Purda and two other Croats on suspicion that they shot at wounded JNA soldiers in 1991 and killed two of them, while the third died in a hospital. According to reports, the Croatian authorities knew about the warrant but did not act on it.