Guso and Suljagic Acquitted of Charges

Guso and Suljagic, former members of the 108th Motorised Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are acquitted of charges that they beat prisoner of war Branko Radenkovic, who was deprived of water and basic hygienic conditions for several days, with their legs and batons on several occasions, while examining him on August 3, 1994.

Explaining the verdict, Trial Chamber Chairman Nijazija Kalender said that “controversies in selecting the indictees and actions, which were included in the indictment, are evident” in this case.

“Although, in several statements given to investigative bodies Radenkovic mentioned other individuals, who could have easily been identified, when preparing the indictment, the Prosecution decided to include names of these two indictees only. The second controversial issue refers to the fact that the injured party said that one of the indictees extinguished cigarettes on his body, hand palms and feet, torturing him by doing it, but the Prosecution failed to include that in the indictment,” Kalender said.

Kalender mentioned that inconsistencies between injured party Radenkovic’s statements were one of the reasons for which the Prosecution had not proved the allegations contained in the indictment.

“The injured party changed his statements frequently during the investigation. The statements differed from each other in terms of significant facts related to concrete events, persons and time,” judge Kalender said.

The parties have the right to file an appeal against the verdict with the Appellate Chamber of Brcko District.