Ten charged in Belgrade over Arkan murder

Arkan

July 18, 2000
Web posted at: 10:25 a.m. EDT (1425 GMT)

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (Reuters) -- Ten suspects were charged Tuesday in Belgrade over the murder of Serb warlord Arkan, an international war crimes suspect who was killed in January, Yugoslav media say.

Arkan, whose real name was Zeljko Raznatovic, was gunned down in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel in Belgrade on January 15. One of his friends and a policeman also died in the attack.

The charges were filed a day before the expiry of a six-month deadline under Serb law for imprisoned suspects to be charged or released.

Official state news agency Tanjug, quoting a statement issued by the Belgrade District Prosecutor's Office, named the murder suspects as Dobrosav Gavric, 23, Dragan Nikolic Gagi, 33, Milan Djuricic Miki, 28 and Zoran Nikolic Pegla, 41.

They have been accused of premeditated murder for which they could face the death penalty. Six others were charged with lesser crimes relating to the murder.

The Belgrade government daily Vecernje Novosti said the first hearing would be in September.

Arkan's murder sparked opposition allegations that Serbian authorities had ordered the assassination because Arkan was powerful, independent and knew too much about alleged war crimes in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.

The U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Hague indicted Arkan in 1997 for alleged war crimes in Bosnia and Croatia. It also charged Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and four of his aides with alleged war crimes in Kosovo in May last year.

Officials have denied any link between the ruling elite and the death of Arkan, who had extensive business and sports interests as well as continuing influence over his "Tigers" paramilitaries -- officially disbanded nearly five years ago.

The five alleged accomplices in the murder were named as Dejan Pitulic, 33, Vujadin Krstic, 36, Milomir Vasiljevic, Djordje Grubacic, 30, and Stojan Rankovic, 25. Slavisa Markovic was accused of illegally holding firearms and ammunition.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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