Stankovic: Indictment against helpers

The Bosnian Court confirmed the indictment against ten people which Prosecution alleges were connected with Radovan Stankovic ‘s escape from the prison in Foca.

The indictment charges Mile Krsmanovic, Miroslav Blagojevic, Zdravko Vreco, Dragan Masic, Srdjan Vilotic, Miro Prodanovic and Goran Milosevic for ”a lack of profesionalism in service”, Brankica Davidovic and Ranka Dragicevic for ”document forgery” and Stankovic’s brother, Ranko for ”enabling the escape.”

Radovan Stankovic on 25 May 2007, escaped from the Foca prison where he was sent to serve a 20 year sentence, after the State Court founded him guilty for crimes against humanity in 1992 in the Foca area.

According to the claims in the indictment, Ranko Stankovic obtained a vehicle between 23 and 25 May 2007 according to ”a previous agreement with his brother Radovan” in order for him to escape from the prison in Foca and left the vehicle with the driver in front of the dentists’ in Foca where he brought his brother following a medical order provided by doctor Brankica Davidovic.

The Prosecution believes Brankica Davidovic, upon Ranko Stankovic’s request, asked nurse Ranka Dragicevic to send Radovan Stankovic to have an x-ray examination of his teeth.

The Assistant to Security Director Mile Krsmanovic in the Security department of the prison, failed to ensure the necessary safeguards were in place to ensure he does not escape.

The indictment also states that Miroslav Blagojevic, the guard and driver, parked the vehicle with the convict inside in a way so the doors were facing the parking lot and not towards the entrance of the Medical centre.

”Guards Zdravko Vreco, Dragan Masic and Srdjan Vilotic who were providing security and transport for the convicted person, did not undertake the necessary measures and actions for the safe escort of the convicted person” is stated in the indictment.

Miro Prodanovic and Goran Milosevic, in accordance with the claims from the indictment, were in a different vehicle, ”did not get out from the official vehicle nor they physically tried to prevent the escape of Radovan Stankovic”.

Stankovic’s escape, as stated in indictement, has ”serious consequences for the international reputation of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

The State Agency for Investigation and Protection, by the end of May 2007, started investigating the case, and submitted the report to the State Prosecution against the nine people suspected of helping the convict in his prison escape.

Nine people out of which, five of them were guards at the prison, were arrested on 1 June 2007. Two days after two guards were released while Mile Krsmanovic, Brankica Davidovic, Ranka Dragicevic and Ranko Stankovic were held a little longer.

All nine guards were returned to their posts as well as Aleksandar Cicmil who was prison warden at the time of Stankovic’s escape.