Serb Ex-Policeman Pleads Not Guilty to Kosovo War Crime

Nenad Arsic pleaded not guilty to committing a war crime as he went on trial on Tuesday at Pristina Basic Court.

The indictment alleges that Arsic, as a reservist member of the Serbian police, committed the crime on May 21, 1999 during a police operation against Kosovo Albanian civilians in Pristina's Emshir neighbourhood.

The prosecution claims that was part of uniformed group who went to the Shala family's home and ordered them to leave the house. They then beat up two members of the family.

After the beating, Arsic allegedly forced Jakup Shala, who had serious health problems, to drink alcohol and sing a popular Serbian nationalist song called 'Ko to kaze, ko to laze Srbija je mala' ('Who is Saying This, Who is Lying That Serbia is Small?').

The indictment also claims that during the police operation, Arsic robbed ethnic Albanian residents in the neighbourhood.

It alleges that Serbian police officers stole 3,200 litres of diesel oil, 120,000 German marks, five cars and one tractor.