Bosnian Serb Military Policeman Acquitted of School Jail Crimes

Babic was acquitted on Wednesday of charges that as the former commander of the Bosnian Serb military police in the town of Bratunac, he ordered, committed or failed to stop the abuse of non-Serb civilians in the Vuk Karadzic school in Bratunac in May 1992.

Presiding judge Davorin Jukic said that it was proven beyond doubt that Bosniak and Croat men from Bratunac were taken to the local stadium and then illegally detained in the school, where they were abused.

But the judge said that the prosecution failed to prove that Babic had command responsibility over the guards in the school.

“Some members of the military police went to the school voluntarily, and not on Babic’s orders,” said Jukic.

According to the verdict, Babic also did not have the authority to improve the conditions in the makeshift detention centre.

“Babic was seen twice in the school, but he was never part of illegal activities. The second time he was seen in the school, he told prisoners they would be exchanged. This does not prove he took part in expulsions, but that he saved the prisoners from almost certain death,” said Jukic.

The verdict can be appealed.