Local Justice – Sarajevo: Custody for Ranko Boljak Extended

Slobodan Nikolic, Secretary of the Sarajevo Cantonal Court, said that the custody for Boljak was extended by two months and it could last until January 18, 2012.

“The custody has been extended because this is a particularly grave crime which was repeatedly committed over a long period of time in a cruel and callous manner under extraordinary circumstances. The indictee may be sentenced to ten or more years in prison for the crime charged upon him. There is a danger that the public order might be disturbed should the indictee be released to liberty,” Nikolic said.

The Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution’s indictment alleges that Boljak is charged with the physical abuse, inhumane treatment and unlawful detention of civilians in the Ilidza and Semizovac areas in 1992 and 1993.

Boljak, former member of the Ilidza Brigade with the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, who was uniformed and armed, is charged with having stopped a convoy of civilians in Ilidza municipality on May 19, 1992 and separated a few men from other passengers in the convoy.

“He separated the convoy drivers and physically abused them. The men were then unlawfully escorted to the Police Station in Ilidza and detained in
that building,” the indictment alleges.

The Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution’s indictment further alleges that, in January and February 1993 Boljak, who was uniformed and armed, came to Semizovac village and took about ten persons from “Planjina kuca” detention camp, where non-Serb civilians were held. He physically abused those men, who were then unlawfully taken to other locations, where they performed forced labour.

Boljak was arrested in Eastern Ilidza municipality on October 19 this year. He has been held in custody since.