Nine Bosnian Serb Ex-Fighters Face Trial for Mass Killing

Courtroom of the Court of BiH. Photo: BIRN BiH

The state court confirmed the indictment charging Zdravko Kandic, Dragan Djurdjic, Dragan Ivanisevic, Goran Doslo, Milan Trifkovic, Sinisa and Mladen Kandic, Dragoslav Acimovic and Damir Antelj with committing a crime against humanity.

They are accused of involvement in the killing of about 100 Bosniaks, including dozens of women, elderly people and children aged from 15 days to two years.

Zdravko Kandic is also charged with crimes against prisoners of war.

“Almost the entire Ploskic, Sipkovic, Alicic, Alibasic, Mahinic, Brajevic, Copelj families and other victims were killed in the crime that was committed. The remains of 49 people have been found, while the remains of 47 victims are still being sought,” said the state prosecution when it raised the charges.

According to the indictment, Zdravko Kandic was commander of the Fifth Battalion of the Nevesinje Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army and Dragan Djurdjic was deputy commander of the Fifth Battalion. Djurdjic is currently a member of the Bosnian Armed Forces.

Dragan Ivanisevic, Goran Doslo and Milan Trifkovic were members of the Fifth Battalion, while Sinisa and Mladen Kandic, Dragoslav Acimovic and Damir Antelj were reservist policemen, the charges say.

“Almost the entire families of Ploskic, Sipkovic, Alicic, Alibasic, Mahinic, Brajevic, Copelj and other victims were killed in the committed crime. The remains of 49 people have been found, while the remains of 47 victims are still being searched for”, said State Prosecutor’s Office earlier.

At the detention hearing in December 2021, prosecutor Eldina Biuk stated that the accused were charged with participating in a systematic VRS attack in the Nevesinje area, ie participating in persecution, murder, arrest, imprisonment, torture and rape.

At a hearing held for orderin custody in December 2021, prosecutor Eldina Biuk said that the accused were charged with participating in a systematic attack of Bosnian Serb Army in the Nevesinje area, i.e. with participating in persecution, murder, arrest, imprisonment, torture and rape.

Prosecutor Biuk said that the accused took and separated detainees, participated in the killings, while Zdravko Kandic and Dragan Djurdjic knew or could have known what their subordinates were doing, but did not take measures to stop or punish the perpetrators of the killings and harassment.