Serbia Info - News / Mentally retarded minor sentenced 30 days in jail

Mentally retarded minor sentenced 30 days in jail
October 11, 1999

Mentally ill under aged Serb arrested

Kosovska Mitrovica, Oct 11 (Tanjug) - A mentally retarded minor of the Serbian nationality who had been arrested by the French gendarmerie in Kosovska Mitrovica, was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Thus the court infringed the U.N. Convention on the Human Rights, particularly the Rights of Children, says the Centre for Peace and Tolerance.

The retarded minor was arrested under the accusation that during the NATO aggression he had committed war crimes. Although he was arrested in the broad daylight, his parents and the attorney were informed only 48 hours later. The French doctor examined the boy and confirmed he could stand the interrogation.

People from the Centre for Peace and Tolerance say he was scared to death, constantly calling for his mother. Miro Delevic, attorney, refused to defend him as he did not have time to get acquainted with the case. The investigation judge simply put the suggestive words into the boys mouth and the boy was admitting everything, just to see his mother.

After Delevic refused to defend him, French and Albanian judges brought an Albanian attorney so that the farce was complete.

Centre for Peace and Tolerance and Serbian National Council point out that arresting and judicial proceeding against mentally retarded minor is an example how the Yugoslav criminal law and U.N. Convention on the Rights of Children are ignored.

The boy's mother says he was trembling with fear when she saw him and was not allowed to stay with him. The French soldiers come to the mother's house every day to get clean robes and underwear because the boy cannot control his bladder.

Centre for Peace and Tolerance informed the Serbian Ministry of Justice, UNMIK, OSCE, High Commissariat for Human Rights and their head in Belgrade Barbara Davis about the case.