Bosnian Prosecution Demands Jail for Capljina Ex-Policemen

The indictment alleges that the men participated in an armed operation in the village of Celjevo in the Capljina municipality on or around July 28, 1993, during which three Bosniak civilians were killed.

Zovko is the former commander of the police station in Capljina, Krndelj the former assistant commander, Rajic the former commander of the Military Police Squad in Capljina, and Cutura a former operational worker at the police station.

Krndelj, Zovko and Rajic have been charged with failing to punish subordinate members of the civil and military police who committed the murders.

Prosecutor Blagic said the injured parties were civilians and “could not have been commandos, as alleged by the defence”.

According to the prosecutor, Krndelj was present at the murder scene and the lives of the men who were killed were in his hands.

“He could have prevented their murder,” Blagic said, adding that it could be concluded, on the basis of the evidence, that Krndelj led the operation in Celjevo.

As far as Zovko and Rajic are concerned, prosecutor Blagic said they were not personally present at the crime scene but were obliged to punish the perpetrators, and did not.

Zovko, Krndelj and Cutura have also been charged with unlawfully arresting civilians from the village of Veledarova Mahala and taking them to Gabela detention camp in July 1993.

The prosecutor said that this count had been proved at the trial as well.

“Witness Adem Veledar confirmed that Ivica Cutura carried out the arrests of the Bosniak civilians,” Blagic said.

Zovko and Krndelj’s defence lawyers are due to present their closing statements on May 24.