Local Justice – Djajic: Bosnian Serb Sentenced for Sarajevo Crimes

Djajic was found guilty at the first instance for intimidating and terrorising Bosnian Croat Srecko Klaric.

The Trial Chamber concluded that on November 1, 1995, Djajic ordered armed policemen, under the pretence of official questioning, to bring Klaric where he told him that he must leave his apartment and the territory of Republika Srpska, since he is a Croat and execution awaits him.

“When Klaric refused to leave his apartment, Djajic punched him in the face, and Klaric fell down,” said presiding judge Adisa Zahiragic.

According to the verdict, Djajic then drove Klaric to the checkpoint at Kobiljaca, where he turned him over to a soldier who told him where to walk because the area was a minefield.

The presiding judge Zahiragic added that on November 2, 1995, Djajic moved into Klaric’s apartment and stayed there until March 1996, but it was not established whether he appropriated the property from apartment, which he was charged with.

“It is indisputable that the defendant used Klaric’s apartment, but it has not been proven that he appropriated all the things from it,” said Zahiragic.

She said that Djajic was convicted to a sentence below the legal minimum, since the Trial Chamber accepted the extenuating circumstances for the defendant.

“The Trial Chamber accepted his family status and his commendable behaviour during the process. The court took into consideration the acts which were committed, regardless of it being a war crime,” said Zahiragic.

Djajic was released after the verdict was passed, and the time he has spent in custody since December 2011 will be subtracted from his sentence.

It is possible to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the plaintiff, Srecko Klaric, was advised to seek compensation in a civil suit.