Seven-year Sentence against Djordjislav Askraba Confirmed

The third instance Chamber confirmed the verdict after having rejected appeals filed by the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Defence.

Askraba was pronounced guilty of unlawfully detaining, assisting in murders and taking Bosniak civilians from the Kalinovik and Foca area, who were held in the “Barutni magacin” (“Gunpowder Depot”) detention camp to other locations, where they performed forced labour.

The second instance verdict pronounced in 2012 determined that Askraba, the then member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, committed those crimes in his capacity as Commander of Guards, who managed the detention camp, in July and August 1992.

The verdict says that more than 80 civilians were taken from “Barutni magacin” to several locations, where they were killed, while some of them are still missing. The second instance Chamber did not determine that the indictee knew that the detainees would be killed after having been taken out of the detention camp.

Under a first instance verdict from 2009, Askraba was acquitted of charges. Considering the fact that he was sentenced under the second instance verdict, the case was considered by the third instance Chamber.