Handzic: Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

Handzic, former Assistant Commander for Security with the 307th Brigade of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ARBiH, was found guilty of deploying Croat prisoners to dig trenches and failing to punish subordinate members of the Military Police who beat and murdered detainees.

The verdict was pronounced after the Court accepted a guilt admission agreement reached between Handzic and the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sentence proposed under the plea deal was between five and ten years in prison.

“The Court took into consideration the fact that Handzic confronted his actions by admitting guilt and gave useful information in the search for the truth. (…) On the other hand, the Court had in mind that the events took place continuously over the course of several months, the actions were targeted at bodies and lives,” Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic explained.

Handzic was sentenced for having failed to open investigations or file criminal reports against members of the Military Police Unit of the 307th Brigade who were responsible for the beating and murder of Croat prisoners in a number of buildings in Bugojno.

“In July and August Handzic gave permission to take prisoners from ‘Vojin Paleksic’ school gym to Prusac, where they performed forced labour, while their lives were endangered. (…) Military policemen, who were his subordinates, hit prisoners in the school building. They killed Mario Subasic and Vinko Ivkovic,” the verdict says.

The Trial Chamber determined that similar events happened in “Iskra” stadium detention camp, Slavonija DI furniture shop, a private garage, the Marxist Center, the Cultural and Sports Centre and at the BH banka premises.

Both the verdict and the agreement say that Handzic gave permission for prisoners to be taken to other locations, where they performed forced labour as per an authorization from the wartime Presidency of Bugojno and Commanders of the 307th Brigade and “Western” Operational Group.

In the referenced period, Dzevad Mlaco was President of the Presidency of Bugojno, Tahir Granic was Commander of the 307th Brigade, while Selmo Cikotic, the current Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was Commander of the “Western” Operational Group.

The Chamber advised the injured parties to file civil suits, also ordering Handzic into custody. The time Handzic spent in custody, from April 16, 2007 to February 19, 2009, when he was released to liberty under prohibiting measures, will be calculated towards the sentence.

The parties have the right to appeal the verdict, but the pronounced sentence may not be appealed. Handzic expressed a wish to be sent to a prison, where he will serve his sentence, right away.

Handzic decided to admit guilt more than three years after the beginning of the trial against him, Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Senad Dautovic. The initial indictment alleges that Gasal was Manager of “Iskra” stadium detention camp, Kukavica was Commander of the detention camp security and Dautovic was Chief of Police in Bugojno and Commander of the Joint Command. His former fellow indictees are currently on trial.