Local Justice – Mostar: Miroslav Raguz Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

Raguz, former assistant to commander of the Security Information Service of the Croatian Defence Council in Stolac and assistant to commander of the Fourth Battalion “Knez Domagoj” of the Croatian Defence Council, was found guilty of the abuse of civilians and Bosnian Muslim prisoners of war in the Bone Diseases hospital in Stolac.

The Cantonal Court in Mostar sentenced Raguz to a unified prison sentence of two years.

Hamo Kebo, presiding judge of the Trial Chamber of the Cantonal Court in Mostar, in his explanation of the verdict said that during the trial it was proven that the defendant took part in interrogation and physical abuse of Serif Selimic in early August, 1993.

“It has been proven that Selimic was interrogated by defendant Raguz, and that two unidentified members of the Croatian Defence Council hit him with an iron bar on the head, after which he lost consciousness. When he came round, Raguz resumed interrogation, and one of the soldiers hit Selimic once again with a fist to the stomach,” said Kebo.

The Presiding judge also said that in September, 1993, defendant Raguz interrogated Edin Baljic, and that during the interrogation unidentified members of the Croatian Defence Council were present in the room and were hitting him until he lost his consciousness.

“When he was returned for the interrogation, Baljic was physically abused again, and Raguz was signaling the Croatian Defence Council soldiers with his head and eyes when to hit him,” said Kebo.

Raguz was pronounced guilty as a person in charge for the abuse of prisoners during their interrogation.

“Despite the fact that he did not personally abuse the victims, the defendant is responsible because he was present when unidentified soldiers of the Croatian Defence Council inflicted violence on prisoners,” said Kebo.

This verdict can be subject to an appeal before the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
S.G.