Prosecution Calls for Long-term Imprisonment for Krsmanovic

Krsmanovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with the murder, rape, torture and abduction of civilians in Visegrad in 1992.

In his closing statements, prosecutor Mirko Lecic said Krsmanovic’s guilt in all 12 counts contained in the indictment had been proven.

Lecic described verdicts handed down by the Hague Tribunal and witness statements which detailed how Serb forces and paramilitary units conducted a widespread and systematic attack on Visegrad, with the aim of persecuting the non-Serb population in the area.

“Visegrad is not mainly populated by Serbs…most, if not all of those who disappeared in May, June and July were civilians. Their families are still searching for some of them,” Lecic said.

Lecic said Bosnian Serb commander Milan Lukic and his group of men acted in a particularly violent manner during the persecution of the non-Serb population in Visegrad. The Hague Tribunal has sentenced Lukic to life imprisonment for war crimes in Visegrad.

“The group [commanded by Milan Lukic] committed everything, from robberies to murders, over the course of a few weeks. The defendant was seen with that group constantly…When a witness said during the trial that she used to see Krsmanovic with Milan Lukic and the others, the defendant confirmed that this was the case, and said he wasn’t with them, but they were with him, because he was rich,” Lecic said to the court.

In describing statements given by witnesses in the trial, Lecic said Krsmanovic’s guilt in the killing and burning of 70 Bosniak civilians in Bikavac in June 1992 had been proven. Lecic described the killing as “one of the most shocking events, abhorred by each normal person.”

Lecic described the testimony of a witness who said she saw Krsmanovic next to the house on the day of the killing. He also described statements given by other witnesses, who offered indirect findings pointing to Krsmanovic’s involvement.

In regards to the charge that Krsmanovic participated in the abduction of 16 civilians from Sjeverin, in Serbia, who were then killed in Visegrad, Lecic quoted testimony from a protected witness who spoke about the abduction and killing before a special chamber.

“This witness personally witnessed the torture of kidnapped civilians by Oliver and Lukic at the Vilina Vlas Hotel…He confirmed that he drove them to the Drina river bank later on, where they were deprived of their lives,” Lecic said.

Lecic said Djordje Sevic, one of the accomplices in the kidnapping and killing, told judicial bodies in Serbia that Krsmanovic was one of the perpetrators. A Belgrade court sentenced Krsmanovic, in absentia, to 20 years in prison.

In his closing statement, Lecic described statements by witnesses who detailed Krsmanovic’s participation in rapes at the Vilina Vlas Hotel and taking away men from the Haniste, Dusce, and the Varda factory. The men are still missing and are considered dead.

Lecic also described testimony which detailed Krsmanovic’s participation in the abuse of prisoner Zijad Kustura in Visegrad, as well as prisoners held in the Uzamnica and Rasadnik detention camps in Rogatica.

“The chamber should consider the fact that there are no mitigating circumstances in the case of the defendant. There are a series of aggravating circumstances – his persistence, cruelty and callousness, as well as the fact that the consequences of his actions are still present, even though 20 years have passed since the war ended,” Lecic said.

Krsmanovic’s defense will present its closing statement on June 16.