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The suspects surrendered themselves for a variety of reasons, ranging from admissions of guilt to a desire to prove their innocence. Others decided to cooperate with Bosnian authorities in order to not endanger their citizenship and residency in other countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the U.S.
Nedzad Kahrimanovic, indicted for war crimes committed in Celic, traveled from the U.S. in order to prove his innocence and attend hearings held before the Cantonal Court of Tuzla.
Admir Arnautovic, the spokesperson of the cantonal prosecution of Tuzla, said Kahrimanovic presented his defense and gave a statement on the circumstances of the crime.
Amir Coralic, charged with war crimes in Cazin, reported to judicial bodies in Bihac from Switzerland.
Adnan Tulic, the spokesperson of the cantonal prosecution of Una-Sana, said most suspects voluntarily surrendered themselves to the Bosnian justice system in order not to lose citizenships granted to them by other countries.
If war crime suspects are arrested in the U.S. or in Europe, they are either extradited to Bosnian authorities or are tried for war crimes in their countries of residence.
Some suspects from Serbia and Croatia voluntarily reported to judicial bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and stood trial, although these two countries do not extradite their citizens to other jurisdictions.
Igor Milosevic, charged with war crimes committed in Trnovo, voluntarily came forward to stand trial from Serbia. Tarik Crnkic, a prosecutor with the district prosecution of Eastern Sarajevo, said members of his family had received the summons and informed him about it. He said Milosevic then appeared in court at the date and time specified in the summons.
Several Croatian citizens also stood trial for war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of them, Miroslav Anic, plead guilty to war crimes in Vares and Kiseljak and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
“I am sorry for all the people who were either killed by me or the people who participated in all those acts with me. I regret it. I shall regret it my whole life,” Anic said.
Trial chambers frequently consider voluntary surrender from other countries as a mitigating circumstance. The verdict against Nikola Kovacevic stated that his voluntary surrender from Serbia, which, in accordance to its laws, wouldn’t have extradited him to Bosnia and Herzegovina for further processing, was taken into consideration. Kovacevic was sentenced to 12 years in prison for war crimes in Sanski Most.
Some suspects surrender to investigative bodies because they consider themselves not guilty. Radomir Fundup, charged with war crimes committed in Foca, voluntarily surrendered to the State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA. Fundup said he “was not raised to commit such a crime” and he “would prove his innocence during the trial.”
