First Instance Verdict for Krajina Crimes Quashed
This post is also available in: Bosnian
Also, a retrial before the Appellate Chamber was ordered for the three indictees, who were pronounced guilty, under the first instance verdict, for having participated, in their capacity as members of the Fifth Corps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the physical and mental abuse of Serb detainees.
The Appellate Chamber rendered a decision to quash the convicting part of the verdict after having considered the appeals filed by the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Defence attorneys.
“The Prosecution’s appeal, referring to the part of the first instance verdict, acquitting the indictees of charges, is hereby rejected as unfounded. Therefore that part of the first instance verdict is confirmed,” the Appellate Chamber said.
After having accepted the appeals filed by the Defence attorneys of Ruznic and Mustafic, and by virtue of the office, the Chamber quashed the convicting part of the verdict against the three indictees.
The first instance verdict was pronounced on September 17 last year. The indictees were found guilty of war crimes against the civilian population and prisoners of war. Selimovic and Ruznic were sentenced to eight years in prison each, while Mustafic was sentenced to nine years.
According to the first instance verdict, Selimovic, Counter-intelligence Officer and Operational Officer with the Counter-intelligence Affairs Section of the Fifth Corps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ruznic, Operational Officer with the Counter-intelligence Affairs Section, and Mustafic, military policeman, enabled and personally participated in the physical and mental abuse of detainees in the “Luke” centre in Bihac, “Rad” car workshop in Cazin, “Adil Besic” military barracks and “Park” hotel premises in Bihac in the period from April 1994 to the end of January 1996.
The prohibiting measures against the indictees have been extended.
