Bosnia Acquits Rogatica Camp Guard of Killings, Rape
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Planojevic was cleared of assisting in the killings, rape and torture of prisoners at the camp, where non-Serbs were held in inhumane conditions during the war.
According to the court, the prosecution failed to provide adequate evidence proving Planojevic’s guilt.
“For some counts of the indictment, the chamber found that Planojevic was present, and that he took out [of the camp] Himzo Brankovic, who was killed, and F.K., who was raped, but the prosecution failed to prove his intent to assist in the killings and rapes,” said presiding judge Lejla Konjic-Dragovic.
The court found that Planojevic felt he was obliged to follow orders given by the detention Rasadnik camp warden, Vinko Bojic. Bojic is still wanted by the Bosnian authorities.
According to the verdict, Planojevic did not assist in the killings of four prisoners and did not personally kill a fifth.
He was also cleared of the charges that he assisted in the rape of F.K.
The court found that Planojevic did beat up one prisoner, but only on strict orders given by Bojic which, according to the judge, he had to follow.
“The evidence did not have the strength necessary to find the defendant guilty of a war crime,” said Konjic-Dragovic.
The defendant did not attend the verdict, which also freed him of the obligation to pay for the costs of the trial.
The verdict can be appealed.
