Veselinovic: Seven and Half Years in Prison

The State Court has accepted a plea bargain made by Rade Veselinovic and sentenced him to seven and a half years in prison. The time he has already spent in custody, since November 29, 2007, will be set against his sentence.

Veselinovic confessed to committing a crime against humanity in the territory of Hadzici Municipality in the period between May and late 1992.

“I plead guilty to the charges,” said Veselinovic, having previously said that some of the witnesses during the hearing were telling the truth, while some weren’t.

Veselinovic made a plea bargain with the State Prosecution based on an amended indictment which was submitted to the Trial Chamber on June 29 this year.

“The Trial Chamber has accepted the plea bargain according to which Veselinovic, during the broad and systematic attack of the paramilitary, police and military formations of Republika Srpska, committed, instigated and assisted murders, inhumane behaviour and other acts which inflicted great suffering on civilians,” said Mira Smajlovic, presiding judge of the Trial Chamber.

Under the terms of the plea bargain, the Trial Chamber was to pass a sentence of between six and eight years’ imprisonment.

Smajlovic explained that the Court had opted for seven and a half years because Veselinovic admitted to the acts he was charged with, he had no prior convictions, and he is elderly and in poor health. However, Smajlovic also noted that, “he committed a relatively large number of premeditated acts against civilians”.

Veselinovic was found guilty on grounds that, together with other members of the Army of Republika Srpska, he illegally arrested civilians in the villages of Zunovnica and Musici and others in the territory of Hadzici Municipality, and enabled others to harass those civilians and commit unnatural acts against them.

“He is guilty of shooting, in front of the House of Culture, Stjepan Musa, who was wounded on the occasion, and of harassing and beating two prisoners who were taken to forced labour,” said Smajlovic.

In his plea bargain, Veselinovic admitted entering the building of Sifet Hrvat and taking him away, after which Sifat Hrvat disappeared without trace, and that he was present when Mujesira Piknjac was murdered in Donji Hadzici.

“Veselinovic is guilty of harassing Hasnija Music, firing several shots over her head, the consequences of which she feels even today,” said Smajlovic.

The Prosecution dropped one count in the original indictment, under which the defendant was charged with participating in an attack on the village of Musici, together with other members of the Army of Republika Srpska, on May 20, 1992, when several persons were killed.

With his plea bargain, Veselinovic agreed to begin serving his sentence immediately, and the Trial Chamber, said Smajlovic, “would make the decision where he would serve the sentence during the day.”

With the acceptance of the plea bargain, the costs of the trial will be covered by the state budget, while plaintiffs were advised to sue for damages.

The trial of Veselinovic began on July 18, 2008. The plea bargain was made when the Defence was presenting its evidence.