Bosniak Ex-Policeman Acquitted of Torturing Serbs in Stupari

He was cleared of charges that he hit and kicked the Serb men in their heads and genitals using his fists, boots, baton and rifle butt, put a pistol and knife to their throats, threatened them and forced them to eat paper.

Presiding judge Vesna Jesenkovic said the state prosecution had not proved Vejzovic’s guilt, adding that most counts in the indictment were based on statements given by a single witness.

“In the light of all that, the statements given by that witness did not have the required strength to serve as the basis for a verdict of conviction. Accordingly, we have rendered a verdict of acquittal,” Jesenkovic said.

Jesenkovic added that some prosecution witnesses also changed their statements, which is why the judges could not hand down a guilty verdict.

“For example, witness Radovan Djokic, each time he gave a statement he added certain things, which is why the chamber found his testimony to be not credible,” Jesenkovic said.

Vejzovic was originally standing trial together with Safet Mujcinovic, Selman Busnov, Nusret Muhic, Zijad Hamzic, Ramiz Halilovic, Nedzad Hodzic and Osman Gogic, who were acquitted, under a first-instance verdict, of committing war crimes in the Kladanj area from May 1992 to July 1993.

However his case was separated from the others due to his illness.

The Vejzovic verdict can be appealed.