Skrobic: Indictment Confirmed

The Court of BiH has confirmed the indictment against Marko Skrobic, a former member of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), charging him with war crimes against civilians committed in Kotor Varos area in July 1992. The Prosecution of BiH has also filed a motion for the referral of this case to a lower court.

The indictment alleges that Skrobic, acting together with four other armed persons, “forced the inhabitants of two family houses” in Novo Selo village, Kotor Varos municipality, to leave their houses and took them in the direction of Ravne village on July 31, 1992. The indictment further alleges that Skrobic personally “grabbed one person from the group and fired a bullet at him”.

In the course of the investigation Skrobic “defended himself by silence”. The explanation of the indictment indicates that witnesses have confirmed to the Prosecution that the indictee is responsible for the crimes he is charged with. The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Banja Luka examined those witnesses several times.

The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) arrested Skrobic on December 17, 2007. He has been held in custody since then.

The Prosecution of BiH filed, together with the indictment against Skrobic, a motion for referral of this case to a lower court for further processing.

Citing the reasons for this motion, the Prosecution of BiH indicated that the case was not a complex one because Skrobic is charged with only one action, “whose consequences are less severe than those arising from other crimes processed by the Court of BiH”.

In addition, the Prosecution of BiH indicated that “the lower courts conduct far fewer processes than the Court of BiH”.

The Court of BiH shall render a decision on the possible referral of this case at a later stage. Unless the case is referred to some other court, a plea hearing is due take place within the next 15 days.