Radovan Karadzic’s Former Adviser Arrested

Jovan Tintor, a senior official during wartime with the Serb Democratic Party, SDS, was arrested on Monday evening on warrant issued for him by Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1999, since he lives in Serbia.

Tintor, who he lives in Serbia, was arrested at the Raca border crossing in northern Bosnia.

The Bosnian prosecution suspects Tintor, who was Karadzic’s advisor and the president of the SDS in Vogosca, of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Vogosca and its surroundings.

After his arrest, the president of the Association of Families of the Missing Persons from Vogosca, Ema Cekic, told BIRN that she was pleased that senior figures were being put on trial.

“So many crimes took place in Vogosca and I am satisfied we are finally seeing arrests of high-ranking officials. I only hope that after the trial we will not have a situation where there is a small sentence or an acquittal, where the entire case is being done just for a [prosecution] quota,” said Cekic.

But one of Tintor’s wartime SDS colleagues, Momcilo Krajisnik, told BIRN that he has no knowledge of the alleged crimes committed by Tintor.

“I know he was a high-ranking official in Vogosca, but I never heard about crimes. I think the arrest happened because instructions were sent to the Bosnian judiciary from [the UN war crimes court in] The Hague to finish their job. I believe Tintor will be acquitted,” Krajisnik said.

The Hague Tribunal sentenced Krajisnik to 20 years in prison in 2009 for wartime crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The president of the SDS, Radovan Karadzic, is currently awaiting his verdict for genocide and war crimes.

The Bosnian prosecution told BIRN that it will question Tintor and file a custody motion on Tuesday.