Bosnian Court Quashes Assault Acquittal of Bosniak Policeman

The appeals chamber of the Bosnian state court announced on Thursday that it has partially upheld the prosecution’s appeal against the verdict acquitting Kahro Vejzovic of abusing Serb prisoners, and ordered him to be retried on seven counts in the indictment.

He is accused of beating up Serb civilian detainees in the village of Stupari, near Kladanj, in the period from June to September 1992.

However the appeals chamber upheld his acquittal on seven other counts on which he was charged with abusing Serb men in Stupari.

In August last year, he was acquitted of torturing detained Serb civilians in Stupari by hitting them on their heads and in their groins with his fists, baton and rifle butt, kicking them, putting a handgun and knife to their throats, threatening them and forcing them to eat paper.

Presiding judge Vesna Jesenkovic said at the time that the state prosecution had not proved Vejzovic’s guilt and that most of the counts were based on statements given by one witness only.

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, after being on trial with the seven other defendants for two years, his case was separated from the others due to his illness.

Thursday’s verdict can be appealed.