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Defense lawyers of Serbs claim information from investigation denied to them (Radio KIM)

Defense lawyers of the Serbs arrested at the end of November as per Pristina prosecution order in relation to the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, voiced dissatisfaction over the course of the investigation, since as they claim, they are denied access to the case files, and they are not familiar what concrete acts their clients are charged with, Radio KIM reports. The three arrested Serbs are currently in detention in Podujevo. Lawyer, Dejan Vasic who defends Dragisa Markovic said he submitted a request to the prosecution in December to inform him about the place and time of carrying out investigative acts and allow access to the case files related to his client. “The prosecution has not done it yet. I think that part of the investigation related to my client should not be secret, given that he is neither charged with direct participation nor assisting in the murder of Oliver Ivanovic.”  Vasic added he and the Markovic’s family regularly visit him in the prison. Markovic, who is a member of Kosovo police, is charged with criminal offense of revealing an official secret, since he is allegedly seen on the spot of the murder talking on the mobile phone. Lawyer, Negovan Saranovic, who defends Nedeljko Spasojevic, also a member of Kosovo police, told Tanjug that his client has not been interrogated yet by the Pristina prosecution for the criminal acts he is charged with, and none of them is familiar with the factual description of what these criminal acts include. Spasojevic is accused of “aiding in serious murder,” and unlawful possession of weapon, that was found in his house in the attic. Saranovic said the prosecution contacted neither him nor his client regard criminal proceeding that is ongoing, and the detention “is the only matter being discussed about,” claiming “there is no substantiated evidence for that either.” The third arrested Serb, Marko Rosic, recently cancelled his authorization to the Serbian lawyers, and hired an Albanian lawyer. Radio KIM recalled that arrested Serbs were sent to detention on 24 November 2018 and based on court decision may remain there up to 23 February, when the court is set to deliberate again whether the reasons for detention are still valid.