Indictment for Krajina Crimes Confirmed

The former members of the Fifth Corps with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, are charged with having committed crimes against prisoners of war, members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, on March 11, 1995.

“They participated in escorting 31 prisoners of war from collection centres within the “Rad” Company complex in Cazin, “Luke” prison and “Adil Besic” military barracks in Bihac to the Izacic border crossing, where a previously agreed exchange of prisoners between VRS and ARBiH was conducted,” the announcement says.

According to the charges, as they were getting on a bus the prisoners were blindfolded and ordered to keep their hands on their backs and look down.

The indictment alleges that, during the ride indictees Kovacevic, Anadolac, Ljubijankic and Hafuric, who were accompanied by other members of military police, beat prisoners with police batons, rifle butts, hands and legs, forcing them to sing the “My Bosnia” song, among others.

It is further alleges that Begic was Commander of a squad with the Second Company of the Fifth Battalion of military police, while Kovacevic, Anadolac, Ljubijankic and Hafuric were military policemen.

“Begic, former Squad Commander, failed to undertake the necessary and reasonable actions in order to prevent his subordinates from physically and mentally abusing the prisoners, although he knew that the mentioned policemen intended to perform such actions and that they performed them in his presence,” the announcement says.