The indictment in the case of the assassination of Oliver Ivanovic was delivered to Marko Rosic’s defense yesterday, his lawyer Mahmut Halimi confirmed for KoSSev. The first reading of the indictment will be done at a hearing scheduled for December 30th. According to Halimi, the prosecution „did not offer new evidence of Rosic’s involvement in the murder of Oliver Ivanovic“ in the indictment.
After seeing the indictment, Halimi said that his client was charged „with what he had been charged with since day one.“
„Based on two leads, which cannot in any way prove his possible involvement in the commission of the act he is charged with – a statement by the brother of the deceased and some note allegedly found in Ivanovic’s wallet after some time,“ Halimi explained, adding that the indictment continues to rely on „those two pieces of evidence.“
„There is no other evidence to confirm another fact, that is, a circumstance that may raise reasonable doubt,“ he underlined.
Although Halimi said that Rosic is “only” charged with „this offense“, he added that the introduction of the indictment also charges Rosic with „assault, grievous bodily harm and burning of a vehicle“. According to Halimi, however, „in the operative part of the indictment, he is only charged with assisting in the murder of the late Ivanovic.“
The prosecution claims that defendant M.R. worked closely with defendants N.S., R.B., M.R., Z.V. and Z.B., that he intentionally and knowingly assisted in the commission of the crime of „aggravated murder“ by following Oliver Ivanovic before the murder. After the murder, a piece of paper with the license plate number „KM-014 -Jeep FZ, black Santa FE jeep“ was found in the pocket of the slain Ivanovic, the same vehicle was used to follow Oliver Ivanovic’s brother (M.I.) after the murder.
The first reading of the indictment will be done at a hearing scheduled for December 30, and the court will decide on a motion to terminate custody. The court will give a deadline for objections (the statutory deadline is 30 days), after which it can schedule a second hearing or decide based on the complaint whether or not the indictment will continue to the main trial, Marko Rosic’s lawyer explained.
Marko Rosic was granted transfer to a detention facility in North Mitrovica on December 9th.
The lawyer of Nedeljko Spasojevic, Faruk Korenica, another suspect in this case, told KoSSev that he had not yet received the indictment because of health issues but that he received a notice.
The indictment
The Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office announced on December 2nd that charges have been filed in the murder case of Oliver Ivanovic against N.S., M.R., S.A., D.M., Z.J. and R.B – four of whom are members of the Kosovo Police. The defense attorneys did not receive the indictment until yesterday, although the content of the alleged indictments appeared in Kosovo media. Kosovo Special Prosecutor, Syle Hoxha could not confirm whether the indictment published by the media was authentic. „I don’t have the time to keep track of the media,“ Hoxha told KoSSev.
According to the prosecution’ announcement at the time, the accused were charged with “participating in organized a criminal group,” “abuse of office,” “support in crime,” “aggravated murder,” “illegal possession and use of firearms,” “disclosing official secrets,” “abuse of duty in complicity” and “tampering with evidence.” It is still unknown which of the suspects is charged with what crime.
Also, four more suspects are on the run, one of whom is a fifth Kosovo police officer from the north. According to still unofficial information, he is one of the key police officials.
An international arrest warrant has been issued against M.R., Z.V. and Z.B. – as they are on the run. Both groups are said to be operating as a single organized crime group led by suspects M.R. and Z.V. According to the indictment, this group has been operating since 2011.
So far, the public have heard about seven suspects in Ivanovic’s murder: Marko Rosic, Kosovo police officer Nedeljko Spasojevic who have been in custody for a year, Dragisa Markovic, also a policeman released from custody in February, Silvana Arsovic, Ivanovic’s close associate, Rade Basara, a policeman, Milan Radoicic, the deputy leader of Srpska Lista, and Z.B. who the Serb officials identified as Zeljko Bojic, the head of Kosovo operational department for the region North. His identity has not been confirmed by the Kosovo investigators.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
