The Belgrade District Court spokeswoman Ivana Ramic said yesterday that the identity of Hague fugitive Stojan Zupljanin has been confirmed on the basis of DNA tests.

Arrested in Pancevo on Wednesday, Zupljanin denied his identity at the Special Court, and claimed that he was Branislav Vukadin.

The court said that Vukadin, Zupljanin’s assumed identity, has been dead for some time. The The Hague fugitive’s fingerprints were filed under the name of Branislav Vukadin, which was why a DNA analysis was necessary. His personal ID card with his assumed identity was issued in Backa Palanka. Another fugitive, Vlastimir Dordevic was also carrying the identity card of a dead man when he was arrested in 2007.

Earlier, Zupljanin’s assigned legal counsel Igor Pantelic confirmed that the suspect had introduced himself to the judge as Branislav Vukadin. Pantelic said that a DNA analysis of the suspect’s blood would be complete during the afternoon. The lawyer said that he had been present when the suspect’s fingerprints and blood sample had been taken.

Zupljanin was transferred to the Special Court just after 13:00 CET, after which he was brought before the investigative judge.