The closed court session against Sinisha Spasić, accused of war crimes in Kosovo, concluded without media presence.

The accused was removed by the police. Meanwhile, Ljubomir Pantović, Spasić’s lawyer, stated that the request submitted today by the Special Prosecutor’s Office does not meet the basic requirements to be accepted or to justify pre-trial detention.

Pantović said that the investigation into war crimes in the Vushtrri municipality began in 1999 by investigators from the Hague Tribunal, UNMIK, and the Kosovo Prosecutor’s Office, and according to him, Spasić’s name was never mentioned as a suspect in war crimes.

He described as “strange” a witness recalling after 26 years that Spasić allegedly participated in these war crimes.

“The investigation into the crime attributed to Mr. Spasić began in the summer of 1999, 26 years ago. This investigation was conducted by investigators from the Hague Tribunal, then UNMIK Prosecutors, EULEX investigators, and Kosovo investigators. During this investigation, dozens of witnesses were certainly interviewed. Over these 26 years, no one ever mentioned Sinisha Spasić in any context related to this crime—until a month and a half ago, when a witness suddenly remembered that Spasić had participated, but had forgotten to mention it for 26 years. After that, the ‘memory’ of several other witnesses was also ‘refreshed,’ and they too stated that Sinisha had participated in what is now called a war crime,” he said.

Pantović added that he intends to file an appeal, because, as he stated, the Special Prosecutor’s Office request does not meet the basic legal conditions to justify pre-trial detention.

“We are simply in a situation where people are being arrested and prosecuted without any evidence. The request submitted today by the Special Prosecutor’s Office, I tell you, does not meet the basic requirements to be accepted and to justify pre-trial detention, because there is absolutely no demonstrated or substantiated suspicion that Mr. Spasić participated in this event, which is the fundamental condition for pre-trial detention. I will file an appeal,” said Pantović.

Spasić was arrested on Sunday at the Merdare border point, suspected of war crimes against the civilian population during the Kosovo war. According to statements from the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the Kosovo Police, he is suspected of involvement in crimes committed on April 6, 1999, in the Vushtrri municipality, in the Mitrovica region.

According to the Special Prosecutor’s Office, S.S. is suspected of acting in cooperation with other uniformed personnel, operating in a group as active mobilized reservist officers from units of the Serbian Ministry of Interior.

Among other allegations, S.S. is suspected of, on April 6, 1999, jointly participating in an operation during which houses were looted and burned, and physical and sexual violence was committed against unarmed civilians.

During the investigation phase, material evidence was secured, including witness testimonies.