The Basic Court in Prishtina on Tuesday ordered one month of pre-trial detention for four local Serbs suspected of war crimes against civilians, alleging their involvement in the killing of six ethnic Albanians in the village of Syrigane/Suvo Grlo in Kosovo’s central municipality of Skenderaj/Srbica.

The four suspects, identified only by the initials G.T., R.K., S.T. and P.T., were detained following a request by the Kosovo Special Prosecution, which alleges that the crimes were committed during May-June 1998.

The court said detention was necessary due to the risk of flight and potential interference with witnesses. It added that the suspects also hold Serbian passports, raising concerns that they could leave Kosovo if released.

“If the defendants are released, there is a potential risk that they could influence witnesses and injured parties. In addition to the possibility of fleeing and becoming unavailable to prosecuting authorities, pre-trial detention is currently the only adequate measure to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted conduct of criminal proceedings,” the court said.

The court rejected a prosecution request to detain a fifth suspect, N.T., ruling that there was no well-grounded suspicion that he had committed the alleged offence.

The five were arrested on March 1 in a joint operation conducted by the Kosovo Police and the Special Prosecution at six locations, five in Skenderaj and one in North Mitrovica. Authorities seized a semi-automatic SKS rifle, a Zastava M-57 pistol, two magazines and 77 rounds of ammunition, a 12-gauge hunting shotgun with 17 rounds as well as uniforms and equipment of the former Yugoslav People’s Army, JNA.

It was not immediately made public whether the suspects were members of the JNA, the Serbian police force or any other armed unit at the time of their alleged crimes.

The detention order can be appealed.