Kornjaca Jailed For Five Years For Cajnice Crimes

The former Commander of “Plavi Orlovi” (“Blue Eagles”) unit of the Bosnian Serb army was found guilty on Wednesday of detaining and beating Bosniak civilians held in a metal container at Mostina locality.

“Kornjaca ordered and personally deprived civilians of their liberty. The civilians were detained in inhumane conditions without sufficient air in a metal container,” presiding judge Darko Samardzic noted.

The judge pointed out that the victims who were beaten described Kornjaca as an armed person with long black beard and with a fur hat on his head.

The Chamber acquitted Kornjaca of murder. He was also acquitted of responsibility for punishing Veljo Tadic, who killed 27 civilians in a hunting lodge on May 19, 1992, due to lack of evidence.

“The Prosecution has not proved, beyond reasonable doubt, that Kornjaca had effective control over Veljo Tadic,” Samardzic said, pointing out that all orders were issued by the Crisis Committee of Cajnice municipality.

The Chamber further acquitted Kornjaca of contributing to the murder of civilians from Brdo village.

When deciding on the sentence, the Chamber took into consideration that Kornjaca had not been sentenced before, that he had felt compassion for the injured parties, that he had a heart disease and that his judgment capacity had been reduced.

The prohibiting measures against Kornjaca, which include a ban on leaving Cajnice, a ban on traveling and an obligation to report to the police, have been extended.

The time he spent in custody, from December 16, 2009 to August 30, 2012, will be calculated in his sentence.

The parties have the right to appeal this verdict.