Alija Osmic Sentenced to 11 Years

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina pronounced Alija Osmic guilty of war crimes against prisoners of war who were held in various premises in the Bugojno area, and determined that he “personally committed murders and caused severe suffering and bodily injuries to detainees”.

“Osmic committed the crimes with premeditation and a will to do it. This conclusion stems from indictee Osmic’s actions,” said Stanisa Gluhajic, Chairman of the State Court’s Trial Chamber.

Indictee Osmic did not attend the pronouncement of the verdict. Gluhajic said that, “by force of law”, he would be ordered into custody due to the duration of the pronounced sentence.

“The indictee will be arrested and sent to the competent detention unit,” Gluhajic said.

Prior to the pronouncement of the verdict, Defence attorney Kerim Celik said he did not know why the indictee failed to appear in the courtroom, adding that, by law, he was not obliged to do so, but he was available to prosecution bodies.

Osmic was found guilty, as former member of the Military Police Unit with the 307th Motorized Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of having acted contrary to international humanitarian law by committing murders and causing severe bodily injuries to prisoners of war in several locations, including a private garage in Donjici village, the Marxist Center – Cloister and “BH banka” premises from July 18, 1993 to March 19, 1994.

Osmic was acquitted of the charges that he was present when detainees collected corpses, dug trenches and performed other works at the city cemetery while being subjected to beating, which led to the death of detainee Mario Zrno.

“Not enough evidence has been presented to prove that Osmic is responsible for that crime,” Gluhajic said.

Explaining the verdict, Gluhajic said that the crime qualification had changed, so it was now qualified as a war crime against prisoners of war instead of war crimes against civilians.

“All of the victims were prisoners of war, members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, who were captured by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The indictee was aware of this fact,” Gluhajic said.

At the trial of Osmic, 17 Prosecution witnesses, 12 Defence witnesses and one court expert were examined and many pieces of material evidence presented.

“On the basis of evidence, the Trial Chamber has determined that Osmic acted as an accomplice in the abuse of prisoners and the murder of Vlatko Kapetanovic,” Gluhajic said.

Under the first instance verdict, Osmic is exempted from paying the trial costs due to his “difficult financial situation”, while the injured parties are advised to file civil suits in order to settle their legal and property claims.

The parties have the right to file appeals with the Appellate Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.