The unverified link between an alleged war lord and an address in Marlow Bottom is believed to have been made through a former Croat living in the village.

Ivan Cermak is accused at an international court of ethnic cleansing by murder and destruction - and it is said that he is the man of the same name who runs Crodux Ltd out of a sleepy detached home in Marlow Bottom.

The house is occupied by company secretary Michael Collins and wife Kristina, 64, a director of the firm who is believed to be Croatian.

She is thought to have come from the war-torn country where Ivan Cermak is alleged to have carried out a campaign of terror.

Mrs Collins and husband Michael live in Marlow Bottom, the main road through the village.

Neighbours described Mr Collins as friendly.

Resident Bill Silver, 81 said he believed he was an "ex oil man."

Tim Bovey, president of the Marlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "I have not heard of the company. We have not had any dealings with them at all."

It is a long way away from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague, where Mr Cermak faces trial next month. He is accused of taking part in the brutal war by the Croatian government against the Serb population in the south Krajina region.

As commander of the Knin Garrison - which covers parts of the region - it is alleged that Mr Cermak, 58, oversaw a regime of murder, attacks and destruction.

"Operation Storm" was launched in 1995 to re-take territory declared by Serbs in 1991 to be independent of Croatia, a state which by then was itself just six months old.

He is accused of planning a list of crimes against Serbs such as the killing of those who did not flee, including elderly women and invalids.

"Inhuman acts" included the shooting, beating, kicking and burning of people as well as extensive shelling of civilian areas and "aerial attack on fleeing civilians".

People were threatened with their lives it is alleged and further "cruel treatment" was inflicted on civilians in hospitals. Family members had to watch as their relatives were beaten and abused it is alleged.

There was further "systematic destruction" of civilian property it is alleged as well as widespread looting.

Mr Cermak appeared before the court with co-accused Mladen Markac, former commander of the Croatian special police, in 2004. He pleaded not guilty and was released from custody to face trial from March 11. It will be part of a 15-year drive by the United Nations to bring to justice those involved in the widespread ethnic cleansing in Croatia.

Its last indictment was filed in 2004 and cases are expected to be finished by next year.

Its most senior indictment was against Slobodan Miloevic, former president of Yugoslavia and Serbia.

Although the link has not been verified, the address in Zagreb given for Mr Cermak at Companies House is almost identical to the one given to the accused at the international court.