The Bosnian State Court has terminated custody for Milun Kornjaca, who is charged with crimes against humanity in the Cajnice area in 1992, ordering prohibiting measures instead.
As per the court's decision, Kornjaca is banned from leaving his place of residence or discussing the case with anybody else but his Defence attorneys.
Kornjaca was held in custody for two-and-a-half years.
The Defence asked the Court to terminate custody for the defendant at a hearing on August 29. The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina objected.
"My client has been held in custody for two-and-a-half years. Extension of custody would, in some way, mean inhumane treatment and torture of my client. He will agree with any prohibiting measures, except with a ban to move from his house to the Dispensary in Cajnice," said Milana Borovcanin-Bulic, Defence attorney of the defendant at the hearing.
State Prosecutor Dzevad Muratbegovic said that the only way to ensure Kornjaca's presence at the trial was to keep him in custody.
"The indictee's health condition is not a reason for terminating the custody measure... there is still a fear that citizens would be upset and public order disturbed by releasing the indictee to liberty," he said.
Kornjaca, former commander of the "Plavi orlovi" ("Blue Eagles") paramilitary unit, is on trial for having persecuted Bosniaks [Muslims] in the Cajnice area and killed 11 civilians at Mostina on May 19, 1992.
If he violates any of the prohibiting measures, he may be ordered back into custody.
Dusko Tadic, a former member of the "Plavi orlovi", and Milorad Zivkovic, former chief of the police in Cajnice, are on trial as part of a separate case for crimes committed in Cajnice.
Tadic was released from custody in February this year and Zivkovic two months later.
Kornjaca's trial will continue in September.
Timeline of events in the case against 13 former Serb fighters charged with committing war crimes in the villages of Cuska, Zahac, Ljubenic and Pavlac in Kosovo in 1999.