Bosnian Croat Fighter Indicted for Murders, Torture

The Bosnian state prosecution filed an indictment on Thursday against Nikola Maric, also known as Kobra, accusing him of participating in murders, torture and other inhumane acts as part of a widespread and systematic attack on the Bosniak civilian population from November 1992 to October 1993.

The indictment charges Maric with having ordered a Croatian Defence Council (HVO) member to kill a sick, elderly man and of having personally participated in the murder of six civilians.

“Maric is charged with having participated in the detention of civilians from Skrobucani, Paros, Gracanica, Varvara, Duge, Lug, Visnjani and Druzinovici Bosniak villages,” the prosecution said.

“The indictment alleges that Maric participated in the torture and abuse of civilians who were detained in the Fire Brigade house and fallout shelter in Prozor,” it said.

The indictment also alleges that in the summer of 1993, Maric and a few other unidentified members of the HVO took six Bosniak civilians from the secondary school in Prozor. They have been missing since then and their bodies have never been found.

Maric is also charged with having beaten eight Serbs, along with several other HVO soldiers. After hitting them, he ordered one of them to kneel down and eat grass, according to the indictment.

The indictment has been filed to the state court for confirmation.