ICTY: Ivica Rajic Released to Liberty

Patrick Robinson, President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY decided to approve the request for Rajic’s early release after he has served eight out of the 12 years’ imprisonment sentence pronounced in May 2006.

“I regard that, although the gravity of crimes committed by convict Rajic is very big, the time he has spent in the detention unit, demonstration of a certain form of rehabilitation and the fact that he has cooperated with the Prosecution, go in favour of his early release. I therefore consider that his early release to liberty should be approved,” The Hague Tribunal President’s decision says.

Rajic, former Commander of HVO units in Kiseljak, admitted guilt for having commanded an attack on Stupni do village, near Vares in October 1993, when at least 37 persons were killed.

By admitting guilt, Rajic also accepted the responsibility for having commanded the forces that attacked Vares town, detained about 250 Bosniaks, physically and mentally abused their families and other town residents and sexually abused women. Rajic served his sentence in Spain.

A letter sent by the Spanish prison says that, during his stay in the prison Rajic was manager of “a painting workshop”, cleaned the prison, learned Spanish and was involved in sports, so it was therefore concluded that he had “a positive approach”.

The ICTY Prosecution said that, in line with the guilt admission agreement, Rajic “co-operated considerably” in other investigations related to Kiseljak and Vares.

D.Dz.