Bosnian Serb Ex-Soldier Convicted of Forced Disappearances

Zoran and Radenko Ilic with their lawyer Nada Mandic (left). Photo: BIRN BiH.

The Bosnian state court on Monday sentenced Zoran Ilic to 11 years in prison, ruling that on June 19, 1992, as a member of the Rogatica Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, he participated in the forced disappearances of 16 Bosniak men in the settlement of Rudo, near Rogatica.

Another ex-soldier, Radenko Ilic, was acquitted of the same charges.

Presiding judge Darko Samardzic said the victims were civilians who were wearing civilian clothes and were unarmed, and “there is no evidence that they participated in combat operations”.

Based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, the court found that Zoran Ilic participated in seizing 16 men from the basement of a house in Rudo.

“The panel found the statements of the witnesses to be reliable and credible and accepted them,” said Samardzic.

The defence had claimed that Zoran Ilic was at work in a bakery in the settlement of Donje Polje on the day the crime was committed.

Speaking about the other defendant, Radenko Ilic, judge Samardzic said that the court could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he participated in the enforced disappearance of the civilians, explaining that statements from the witnesses were contradictory.

“The trial panel could not be convinced with certainty regarding the identity of Radenko Ilic,” added the judge.

The verdict can be appealed.