Indictment Revised at Rackovic Trial

According to the revised indictment, Rackovic participated in the persecution of the Bosniak population as a member of the Territorial Defense and then the Fourth Company of the Visegradska Brigade. He was originally charged as a former member of the Army of Republika Srpska.

He has been charged with participating in attacks on Bosniak villages, as well as illegal detention, torture, and enforced disappearances of inhabitants of the Visegrad area. He is also charged with an incident of rape.

The indictment alleges that some of the persons illegally detained by Rackovic were never found, and that civilian bodies were exhumed at a location called “Slap” in Zepa in 2000.

The revised indictment says Rackovic was armed and in military uniform when he arrived to attack Bosniak villages.

Defense attorney Petko Pavlovic objected to the revised indictment. He said that new facts were being introduced, and proposed that the court reject the prosecution’s revised indictment.

“Such revisions have the characteristics of a new indictment. The indictment has been extended in terms of timing, actions, scope, and execution of crimes. Such an indictment is more serious for my client,” Pavlovic said.

Prosecutor Dzevad Muratbegovic said that the revised indictment went easier on the defendant, as certain charges from the original indictment had been removed.

“Under the fourth count, he is only charged with unlawful deprivation of liberty, while, originally, he was also charged with enforced disappearances. Now he isn’t charged with the torture of a civilian, but only with assault,” Muratbegovic said.

The trial chamber said it didn’t consider this as a “factual act that should be submitted for confirmation.”

The prosecution and defense did not propose any new pieces of evidence. The trial chamber declared the evidence presentation process completed.

The prosecution will present its closing statement on March 18.