Verdict Against Veselko and Ivo Raguz Expected Next Week

The appellate chamber of the Bosnian state court will hand down its verdict against Veselko and Ivo Raguz on Wednesday, June 10. At today’s hearing the defense teams concluded their closing statements and requested that the court acquit the two defendants of war crimes in Capljina and Stolac.

Under a first instance verdict pronounced in January 2014, Veselko and Ivo Raguz, former members of the Croatian Defense Council, were acquitted of charges of arresting and detaining Bosniak men from the Stolac area, forcibly resettling women and children, and physically abusing and torturing civilians in Dretelj in July and August 1993.

In November 2014, the appellate chamber repealed the entire verdict referring to defendant Ivo Raguz, while the portion of the verdict referring to Veselko Raguz was partially repealed. The chamber ordered a retrial.

“Not having anything to defend is the worst possible type of defense…We have to defend ourselves from the prosecution’s closing statement, which has emerged from a cry and despair. I’m wondering whether we attended the same trial at all,” said Branko Karadeglic, Veselko Raguz’ defense attorney.

Karadeglic accused the prosecution of attempting to mislead the court by putting words into witnesses’ mouths during the retrial.

“Witness Medin Kaplar did not confirm his brother Alija’s allegations that Veselko Raguz put pressure on him,” Karadeglic said. He said his client did not commit any illegal acts, and that this was confirmed by witness testimonies.

Karadeglic asked the appellate chamber to render a verdict of release. He said during the first instance trial the more favourable criminal law of the former Yugoslavia should have been applied.

Marko Raguz, Ivo Raguz’s defense attorney, said his client was not a military policeman, but an infantry soldier, who was falsely accused by witness Alija Kaplan.

“We are deeply convinced that this case was fabricated by the Kaplan brothers and that they involved their relatives in it as well,” Raguz said. Raguz also asked the court to acquit his client.

The court will hand down its verdict on Wednesday, June 10.